Undercover Operation Leads to Arrests in Human Trafficking Case

Collegedale, TN - In a collaborative effort to combat human trafficking, a joint operation involving special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Human Trafficking Unit, the Collegedale Police Department, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of 11th Judicial District Attorney General Coty Wamp resulted in the arrest of two individuals.

The operation, conducted on March 13th in the Collegedale area, targeted individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors. Officers placed decoy advertisements on websites associated with prostitution and commercial sex. This led to the arrest of two men, who were subsequently charged and booked into the Hamilton County Jail.

• Alvaz Kaukab (DOB 12/21/1992), Chattanooga: Charged with one count of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Possession of Schedule 1 with Intent. Bond set at $5,000.

• Justin Long (DOB 7/6/1998), Chatsworth, Georgia: Charged with two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Patronizing Prostitution. Bond set at $7,000.

The operation also focused on identifying potential victims of human trafficking. The Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking was present to provide support and services to those in need.

Authorities emphasize that the charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For more information on human trafficking and TBI’s initiatives to address this issue, visit ITHasToStop.com.

This operation highlights the interconnected nature of human trafficking crimes, particularly in areas linked by major highways like I-24, which connects Hamilton and Rutherford counties.