Long Beach police say a late March crackdown along the Long Beach Boulevard corridor ended with six solicitation-related arrests, a separate armed robbery arrest, and three vehicles towed, after weeks of complaints about suspected human trafficking and street-level crime near the 91 Freeway corridor.
Officers from several units teamed up for what the department described as coordinated patrols and specialized enforcement along the busy stretch. The goal, police said, was to hit both sides of the illegal sex trade at once by targeting buyers and people exploiting commercial sex work, while also connecting vulnerable people with services.
According to NBC Los Angeles, North Division patrol officers worked alongside the High Crime Focus Team and the Societal Crimes Section throughout March. That effort, the outlet reported, resulted in six arrests for solicitation-related offenses and the towing of three vehicles tied to the operation.
Who Was Arrested
Patch reports that five of the people arrested during the sweeps were identified as Briana Hoyem, 28, David Lozano, 39, Azora Mack, 22, Eduardo Cortez, 27, and Alex Palma, 38. Hoyem was arrested on March 25 and again on March 31, while the others were taken into custody on either March 25 or March 31, according to the outlet. Those arrests followed targeted patrols along the Long Beach Boulevard corridor.
Armed Robbery Arrest And Charges
Police said a separate incident on March 21 led to the arrest of 34-year-old Blazie Douglas, after a commercial sex worker reported that a man pointed a gun at her and tried to rob her on the 6400 block of Long Beach Boulevard.
According to NBC Los Angeles, Douglas was booked on robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and soliciting prostitution charges and is being held without bail. “Efforts like these reflect our continued commitment to addressing illegal activity while prioritizing the safety and dignity of those impacted by exploitation,” Police Chief Wally Hebeish said.
Why Police Say They Are Stepping Up Enforcement
The operation comes as Long Beach has reorganized some investigative functions to focus on so-called societal crimes, moving officers into a dedicated Societal Crimes Section and funding anti-human-trafficking corridor initiatives in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. City budget documents list specific support for the High Crime Focus Team and corridor initiatives that are meant to back both enforcement and victim services, according to the City of Long Beach.
Officials say the broader strategy is designed to reduce demand for illegal commercial sex and to make outreach and services available to people who may be exploited along key corridors.
What Residents Should Know
Police are asking anyone with information to call 9-1-1 in an emergency or Long Beach's non-emergency dispatch at (562) 435-6711, and to submit anonymous tips to LA Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or through the P3 Tips app, as Patch reported.
Officers said they plan to keep doing follow-up work along the corridor and to pursue outstanding warrants connected to the operation. The department is urging community members to report suspicious behavior so investigators can continue building cases against buyers and traffickers.
