Exclusive: An inside look at how NYPD is fighting sex trafficking

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- PIX11 News received an inside look at how the NYPD is fighting sex trafficking in New York City.

A newly formed task force has been working to arrest those leading the sex trafficking charge. Officers are going after so-called pimps and johns, instead of women who are often forced into selling their bodies.

"A lot of their pimps are armed with guns. I think we identified over 400 pimps in this track," NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said.

The Penn Track, a few blocks off Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York, is the most popular destination for the sex trade, according to police.

"It looked like an auction block out there. You have lines of cars out there, men who come out to solicit these women," said Taina Bien-Aimé, the executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.

"The women have quotas to meet. They cannot go in until they meet their quotas put on them by their pimps and traffickers," said Sonia Ossorio, the president of the National Organization for Women New York.

The NYPD has partnered with the FBI, DA's office and other agencies to implement a three-pronged operation. The first phase is going after the alleged pimps. The second phase is sending in advocates to offer the women help. Also never seen before, police are using drones for this operation as well.

"It gives us a bird's-eye view of exactly what is going on down on the street. You see when people are coming up to buy the sex. We are capturing everything in real-time," Daughtry said.

The third phase is arresting those buying sex. This has been going on for about six months. The NYPD is running a full operation to fight the sex trade and it seems to be working. Far less women have been walking the Penn Track. Police will continue doing this work until the community sees a change, according to the NYPD.

Capt. Joseph Leone, executive officer of the 75th Precinct, has seen a huge difference in the sex trade along the Penn Track. "A complete turnaround in my opinion" Capt. Leone said.

There are resources – locally and nationally – to help victims of trafficking or for those who suspect someone may be a victim. Find a list of resources in New York and New Jersey here.