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Adams ramps up monitoring in hotels and spas to curb human exploitation

TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING | Monitoring in hotels, spas, and other massage establishments. (Photo/ EFE)

NEW UNIT PATROLS AURORA, BRIGHTON, AND COMMERCE CITY

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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Adams County announced the creation of a Human Trafficking Unit within the Detective Division of the Sheriff’s Office. This initiative is designed to prevent and combat human trafficking, including sexual trafficking, prostitution, and other forms of exploitation in key communities such as Aurora, Brighton, and Commerce City.

Adams County is especially vulnerable to this crime due to its strategic location and the convergence of three major highways, which facilitates the rapid movement of victims and traffickers. In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 318 victims in Colorado and 21,865 nationwide, numbers that highlight the urgency of a specialized local response.

Use of networks to recruit victims

Human trafficking manifests in multiple forms and is not always visible at first glance. The most common evidence includes control over individuals through coercion, threats, or debt, restriction of movement, sexual or labor exploitation, and recurring patterns in hotels, short-term rentals, and massage spas.

In the digital environment, indicators appear on social media and messaging platforms where victims are recruited, transported, or advertised. The new unit will have two specialized detectives who will investigate human trafficking cases, enforce regulations at massage establishments, and pursue vice-related crimes connected to prostitution and exploitation.

Unlike reactive approaches, the plan prioritizes proactive monitoring of social media, hotels, short-term rentals, and high-risk businesses to identify early indicators and dismantle trafficking networks. The project was approved by the county commissioners and will be developed in close collaboration with the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, led by DA Brian Mason.

Coordinated evidence collection

DA Mason emphasized the need for specialized expertise to investigate and prosecute these complex crimes. The coordination aims to improve evidence collection, protect victims, and strengthen cases in court. During the announcement, Sheriff Gene Claps stressed that “even one victim is too many.”

Claps highlighted the irreparable harm suffered by exploited individuals and the justice system’s responsibility to act swiftly and sensitively. The unit will also work with victim services to ensure immediate support, referrals, and protection. The Sheriff’s Office has set up a tip line and assistance for anonymous reports or victim support:

JOINT EFFORT | Gene Claps, Adams County Sheriff; Brian Mason, 17th Judicial District Attorney of Colorado; and Alex Kondos, Director of the Adams County Detective Division. (Photo/Courtesy of Adams County)