Stop if you’ve heard this one before: dozens of arrests were made, and hundreds of prostitutes and sex trafficking victims were rounded up during the Las Vegas Grand Prix during the week of November 18.
This sort of thing is not unusual at major sporting events. Especially international ones. This time, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was prepared.
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Hundreds Involved In Sex Trafficking
The scoresheet shows the extent to which sex and speed comingled at Vegas’ first ever GP:
- 36 arrested for pandering
- 31 arrested for suspicion of trying to procure a prostitute
- Seven arrested for trying to meet children for sex
- 215 potential victims identified – including five children
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Vegas Metro wasn’t alone though – before the grand event, they worked with hospitals, airlines, hotels, and hot spots to get help from the community in spotting human trafficking victims.
But it wasn’t just the Strip that needed to be watched. Hector Cintron, who heads up the Vice section in Vegas Metro, relates that a lot of the action is taking place in the valley and suburbs beyond the Strip – where police presence is much smaller.
The Race
The race itself shined. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing whizzed under the checkered flag – being waved by who else but Justin Bieber – a full two seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Las Vegas is signed up for ten years of Formula 1 on the Strip, as part of the Formula One World Championship – with a 3.8 mile course that demands 50 laps of pulling hard G’s.
With this successful race and successful policing around the event, no doubt Vegas will get their 10 years, and maybe more.
