South Fulton police have rounded up nearly two dozen individuals in an early morning crackdown linked to a human trafficking probe at a local residence notorious for illicit activities. The operation, triggered by a 911 call reporting gunfire on the 5400 block of Orly Terrace, saw officers witness the shooting unfold as they arrived on scene, prompting a swift response to contain the situation. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that 19 people were initially detained by authorities.
Amidst establishing a perimeter, officers, who were quick in their response, also began sorting through the chaos. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Police Chief Keith Meadows stated, "We’ve received 'quite a few complaints' about possible illicit activity at the home," which included reports of "illicit sex parties," some advertised to take place over the upcoming weekend. The ages of those swept up in the raid range from 16 to 39, Meadows added.
As the investigation intensified, the count of those in custody rose to 20, with at least two individuals still on police's radar. Speaking at a press conference, Meadows shed light on what had long been a blight on the community, specifying that most of those detained were women, and noted that the age range of the individuals in custody extended to "39 or possibly 40." Atlanta News First quoted Meadows as saying, "Many residents have extended their gratitude to the police department, apparently this has been a problem residence for them for quite some time."
Investigators continued combing through evidence gathered at the scene, intent on piecing together the activities taking place at the problematic property. "We are going to do a thorough and methodical investigation in relation to this activity associated with this particular property," Meadows insisted, hinting at the complexities investigators face when trying to unravel the extent of the trafficking network. Among those detained, two were found to have outstanding warrants, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. Meadows expects that more arrests are forthcoming as the investigation presses forward.
South Fulton Police are encouraging anyone with further information to step forward and aid the ongoing investigation into the suspected human trafficking activities.
