The Dartmouth Police Department, in cooperation with the Massachusetts State Police, conducted an undercover sting operation on Thursday, Feb. 1 “to combat the growing threat of prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation,” read a Dartmouth Police statement. 

Undercover detectives arranged to meet the suspects at a local hotel or motel through an online ad. As a result, seven men were arrested and charged with “sexual conduct for a fee.” 

“This operation was the direct result of our commitment to combating the ongoing issues that we are experiencing at our local hotels and motels,” said Dartmouth Chief of Police Brian Levesque in a statement.