USA: Apache Junction, Arizona Police Department Arrested 14 People During An Operation Targeting Child Sex Crimes. Guns And Drugs Were Also Seized. Working On Changing Laws To Hold Them.

🚨NO WHITE SUPREMACISTS INVOLVED🚨

🚨NO ISLAMIC JIHADISTS INVOLVED🚨 

FOX 10 Phoenix published February 21, 2025: Guns, drugs seized during AZ child sex crimes operation. Over a dozen people were arrested, and guns and drugs were seized, during a law enforcement operation targeting child sex crimes. On Feb. 21, police and the Pinal County Attorney's Office will hold a news conference to discuss the results of the operation. "Officials will discuss the dangers of online exploitation and steps the community can take to protect children from predators," police said in a news release.

12 News published February 21, 2025: Online predators targeted in Apache Junction sting, Operation Stranger Things. More than a dozen men were arrested in a sting that targeted online predators.

Fox10 News, Phoenix, AZ local

Guns, drugs seized during Arizona child sex crimes operation; 14 arrested

written by Brent Corrado

Friday February 21, 2025

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. - Over a dozen people were arrested, and guns and drugs were seized, during a law enforcement operation targeting online child sex crimes.

What we know:

The Apache Junction Police Department says 14 people were arrested during the operation, which took place last month.

During a news conference on Feb. 21, police and the Pinal County Attorney's Office said the suspects lured children for sexual encounters. Some of the suspects allegedly used alcohol, money and food to lure children.

Officials say no children were involved in the operation.

During the operation, guns and drugs were also recovered.

What we don't know:

The suspects are all men, but they were not identified.

Authorities did say, however, that one of the 14 arrested worked for ICE, while another was a military veteran, and one was a youth sports coach.

Many of them, according to police, were raising children who were either younger or of the same age asa they children they were allegedly trying to lure.

In one case, police said the child they thought they were talking to was seven years old. Once again, it should be noted that per officials, no actual children were involved in the operation.

What they're saying:

Authorities are urging parents to learn the dangers of social media.

"The reason we're here is because you can never have enough reminders to parents, guardians, teachers, medical… anybody, that these, our juveniles, our youth, are our most precious commodity, and we have to protect them," Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley said.