Eight arrested in Greenville undercover human trafficking and prostitution sting

Eight people were arrested in an undercover operation targeting human trafficking and prostitution on Greenville's west side. One suspect faces felony charges including criminal solicitation of a minor.

Undercover sting nets eight arrests in Greenville human trafficking crackdown

Eight individuals were arrested during an undercover operation targeting human trafficking and prostitution on Greenville's west side, greenvilleonline.com reports.

The Greenville County Sheriff's Office Directed Patrol Unit deployed undercover deputies to identify people allegedly seeking to engage in illegal sexual activity. Charges filed against the eight defendants range from prostitution and criminal solicitation of a minor to human trafficking.

Among those arrested was Alberto Grande-Diaz, who faces multiple felony counts, including human trafficking, criminal solicitation of a minor and disseminating obscene material to a minor, according to authorities.

Investigators have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the arrests or whether any victims were identified during the operation.

The sheriff's office described the sting as part of ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and reduce demand for commercial sex exploitation. Authorities said undercover operations are routinely conducted in areas identified through intelligence, complaints and active investigations.

The latest arrests follow a separate multi-agency investigation in southern Greenville County last month. On 23 September, officers from the Mauldin Police Department, Greenville County Sheriff's Office, Simpsonville Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division executed search warrants at six locations. Five people connected to massage businesses in Mauldin and Simpsonville were arrested and booked into the Greenville County Detention Center.

A sixth suspect in that investigation, Jufen Tang, 53, of Greenville, was arrested on 29 September. Authorities identified Tang as a co-owner of Ocean Breeze Massage and charged her with prostitution. She was also booked into the Greenville County Detention Center.

All charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Source: Times of Malta