CRANSTON, R.I. (AP/WPRI) — Seventeen people have been arrested in Cranston in a crackdown on human trafficking.

Cranston Police said a team that included members of the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and other local departments conducted the operations on Monday and Thursday.

Police said the team of detectives worked out of an undisclosed location in Cranston, where they targeted human traffickers, specifically those whose victims are children.

Eyewitness News spoke with Lt. Matthew Kite of the Cranston Police Department, who said officers posted and responded to ads on pages like Backpage.com.

“Monday, we posed as customers looking for prostitutes and then on another day, we had trained individuals go online, post ads and communicate with potential johns,” Kite said.

Police said another 14 people and a 16-year-old girl were arrested for prostitution.

“I will say if you’re looking for a prostitute or looking to prostitute yourself, assume we’re always running the operation and don’t do it,” Kite added.

According to police: 

-Tyreik Grundy, 20, of Pawtucket, was taken into custody on a bench warrant. He was transported to the ACI.

-Joshua M. Belanger, 41, of Marion, Mass., was charged with one count of procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Yuleysi Garcia, 21, of Providence, was charged with one count of prostitution and one count of human trafficking. Police said the victim was a 16-year-old girl. Garcia was held pending arraignment.

-Jason Still, 41, of West Warwick, was charged with one count of procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Devon Brown, 23, of Everett, Mass., was charged with one count of pandering. He was held pending arraignment.

-Patrick Perkins, 44, of Hingham, Mass, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Hugh J. Smith, 53, of North Smithfield, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Peter Fidas, 42, of Warwick, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Anthony Patrick, 26, of Providence, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee and one count of resisting arrest. He was arraigned and released.

-Andrew S. Codagone, 28, of North Providence, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Jason Marrocco, 33, of Warwick, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Mutabe Aljaghtham, 30, of Wakefield, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Nestor Padilla, 38, of Providence, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Jamie McNeill, 38, of Warwick, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Steven Harrop, 52, of Norton, Mass., was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Gary Hathaway, 41, of Warwick, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.

-Robert Woodstock, 54, of Coventry, was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. He was arraigned and released.The Associated Press contributed to this report.