The New Orleans Police Department announced arrests Wednesday, September 9, 2026, tied to a human trafficking investigation that officials say involved multiple victims. NOPD held a news conference to lay out the results of the operation, sharing the number of arrests made in the case.
Details of the announcement were reported by WDSU, which covered the department's news conference and confirmed that the investigation had produced multiple victims, according to NOPD. The department has not publicly released additional case specifics beyond what was shared at the briefing.
Part of a Broader Pattern of Task Force Busts
Wednesday's announcement lands amid a string of trafficking enforcement actions across the New Orleans area this year. In January, the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office and NOPD announced they had dismantled a trafficking ring operating in New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana, resulting in four felony arrests following a multi-agency investigation, according to the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office. Just last month, NOPD arrested a 22-year-old man on trafficking allegations in August, as reported by WGNO.
The city's enforcement push has also stretched into the metro area. A multi-agency SWAT operation in Metairie in July led to trafficking arrests, Hoodline previously reported. In March, NOPD and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office conducted a drug-trafficking operation spanning Orleans and Jefferson parishes.
Federal Cases Show Steep Penalties
Louisiana law provides specific penalties for convicted traffickers. Under Senate Bill 306, enacted in 2024, the state established mandatory life imprisonment without parole and fines of up to $75,000 for convictions involving commercial sexual activity with minors under 18, according to BillTrack50.
Federal prosecutors have also pursued lengthy sentences in local cases. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice reported that a 38-year-old former New Orleans schoolteacher was sentenced to 33 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a 16-year-old runaway girl brought to his New Orleans residence, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Hoodline covered the teacher's federal sentencing as part of its ongoing coverage of trafficking cases in the city.
Enforcement Spikes and Service Gaps
Task force operations in New Orleans included activity ahead of Mardi Gras. In February, federal and local law enforcement reported that Operation NOLA Safe yielded 175 arrests, the rescue of four trafficking victims including two children, and five trafficking charges in the New Orleans area ahead of Mardi Gras, according to WWNO. Hoodline also detailed the Bourbon Street “Rose Lady” helping police rescue a teen.
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services maintains human trafficking reporting and provider information. The broader response includes emergency shelter beds and specialized mental health resources. Notices related to human trafficking are also part of the broader discussion of Louisiana law.
NOPD announced two arrests in Wednesday's case, and WDSU identified the arrestees as Renee Schulze and Marcus Davis and reported charges against both suspects, including trafficking-related charges, rape, child endangerment, and firearm charges. Hoodline will continue to follow the investigation as more information becomes available from the department.
