An Eden Prairie man is among 11 people facing felony charges following a multi-agency undercover operation led by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety that targeted human trafficking and resulted in the recovery of four victims.
Yonis Abdiweli Hashi, 22, of Eden Prairie, was arrested along with 10 other suspects during a two-day operation on July 27-28 in St. Paul. According to a July 29 news release, the suspects were allegedly caught attempting to solicit minors for sex or promote prostitution via online conversations with undercover agents, who posed as minors or sex buyers.
The operation was led by the Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the St. Paul Police Department. According to the authorities, the suspects were apprehended as they arrived at an arranged meeting place for an encounter.
“We are committed to helping Minnesota’s trafficking victims escape the reprehensible actions of those who would buy or sell them for sex,” said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. “Our predatory crimes agents will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and advocates to end this terrible crime in Minnesota.”
Ten suspects, including Hashi, were booked on probable cause for felony solicitation of a minor under 18 years for prostitution, while one person was booked for probable cause for felony promotion of prostitution.
Besides the arrests, the operation also resulted in the rescue of four female victims from trafficking situations. Advocacy organization Breaking Free provided services during the victim recoveries.
Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry emphasized the importance of partnership among law enforcement agencies in combating human trafficking. “Good police work doesn’t happen without law enforcement coming together, and because of that partnership, these individuals can no longer do harm,” he said.
The sting was a joint effort of multiple agencies including the East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force (EMSTTF), Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST), Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force (MNHTITF). The MNHTITF provides statewide law enforcement response for the Human Trafficking National Hotline.
Charges against the suspects are expected to be filed in the coming days.
Anyone with information about potential trafficking situations is encouraged to contact the BCA at 877-996-6222 or via email at bca.tips@state.mn.us. Those in immediate danger are urged to call 911. Victims can seek help by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or texting “HELP” to 233733.
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