PORTLAND, OR — Portland police rescued six teenage girls from sex trafficking along the notorious 82nd Avenue corridor during a three-week operation that officials called “stunning” for yielding far more victims than normal enforcement efforts.
The Portland Police Human Trafficking Unit and East Precinct officers recovered the girls, ages 13 to 17, during enforcement missions that began April 15. The number represents a dramatic spike from typical operations, which usually recover one to two juvenile victims per month. Officials said it remains unclear whether the surge reflects a new trend or an isolated anomaly in an area that has struggled with prostitution and trafficking for decades.
“While it is not unusual for HTU members to rescue providers from their traffickers, it is unusual to see so many children in this short a period,” Portland Police said in a statement Thursday. Sgt. Onest Robert, who oversees the Human Trafficking Unit, said investigators believe connections exist between the cases. “As we work these investigations, I believe we’ll find a thread or something that connects all these victims together,” Robert told local media. Most of the girls are from Washington state, according to police reports.
The 82nd Avenue corridor in Southeast Portland has been recognized as a hub for sex trafficking and prostitution since the 1980s, earning comparison to Seattle’s Aurora Avenue as a known hotspot for commercial sexual exploitation. “Every area that we know, like for example, Seattle has Aurora, different states have a known location where prostitution is prevalent,” Robert explained. “For us, 82nd Avenue and that sandy area is where if you Google Portland hotspot for trafficking or prostitution, that’s the area that is gonna pop up.” The area’s reputation has made it a focal point for both trafficking operations and law enforcement efforts targeting the crime.
All six girls were transported to East Precinct following their recovery, where they received immediate support through Portland Police Bureau Victim Services and Safety Compass, a nonprofit organization serving survivors of commercial sexual exploitation under age 25. The Oregon Department of Human Services coordinated efforts to reunify some girls with out-of-state parents while arranging protective care placement for others. Esther Garrett, CEO of Safety Compass, described the disturbing reality these young victims face: “They say things to us like, ‘The majority of people I meet wish that I was younger.’ They say things like, ‘Could you pass for 12?’ So just supporting them as a child that shouldn’t be treated like a commodity but like a child.”
Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Aileen Santoyo emphasized that successful prosecutions depend heavily on victim cooperation, which often takes years to develop due to trauma. “The thing that we really need survivors to come forward with is trafficking,” Santoyo said. “How they got there, who helped them get there, who’s facilitating this, who is gaining the money from it?” Portland police noted that trafficking cases involve complex barriers including trauma bonds between victims and traffickers, repeated traumatic exposure, and fear of retaliation that make survivors reluctant to engage with the criminal justice system. The Human Trafficking Unit employs trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches when working with recovered minors.
The rescue operation coincided with broader regional increases in juvenile trafficking cases. Garrett reported that 73% of new clients served by Safety Compass in recent weeks were minors, compared to the typical 50% rate observed annually across approximately 400 individuals served. “The word on the street is that there’s a lot of activity, a lot of money to be made, therefore a large demand in the Portland area and that there is a lack of enforcement compared to the amount of demand,” Garrett said. Portland City Council this week approved an ordinance targeting businesses that fail to address trafficking near their properties, requiring enhanced security measures and staff training or facing fines and potential closure.
Portland police continue building cases against alleged traffickers and sex buyers connected to the recovered girls, though no names have been released as investigations remain active. The Human Trafficking Unit has expanded operations in response to increased activity, with officers now working afternoon shifts specifically focused on outreach and victim identification along known trafficking corridors. “We’re hosting more missions. We have officers now who are working an afternoon shift component, in which they’re going out and making contact with providers,” Robert said. The unit coordinates closely with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office to ensure accountability for perpetrators while prioritizing victim protection and support services.
Investigators face ongoing challenges as they work to combat trafficking in an area with limited resources and growing demand. The proposed Portland Police Bureau budget includes a 35% reduction to the Victims Services Unit, though officials said the potential impact remains unclear. Anyone with information about suspected trafficking can contact Portland police at 503-823-3333, call 911, or reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. The six girls remain in protective services as investigators continue building cases against their alleged traffickers.
