Mantua Township detectives recently joined forces with the New Jersey State Police Human Trafficking Unit and the Linden police department for Operation Coast to Coast, a nationwide initiative to identify and support victims of human trafficking.
The operation was conducted at a motel in Linden, where four victims of human trafficking were recovered and one person was arrested for engaging in prostitution.
Operation Coast to Coast, launched in 2024 by the Human Trafficking Training Center, annually unites agencies across the country to combat trafficking through coordinated investigations and survivor-centered approaches. Nationally, this year’s initiative resulted in the recovery of 88 victims and the arrest of 74 individuals across 19 states.
The initiative involves collaboration between local, state and federal partners to not only to identify and recover victims, but also connect them with services that include shelter, counseling and medical care.
