Detectives with the Port Arthur Police Department and street crimes division along with officers of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force conducted two undercover sting operations between the hours of 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the area of 7th St. and 9th St. and De Queen Blvd. on Wednesday.

The first operation focused on prostitution. An undercover officer posing as a “John” was able to pick up five different females in the area of 7th St.

Each female agreed to perform sexual favors on the officer for money. Four of the females were arrested and booked for misdemeanor prostitution charges and one was booked for felony prostitution due to her previous convictions.

In the second operation officer arrested 10 suspects for solicitation of a prohibitive substance. These suspects approached an undercover officer who was posing as a drug dealer in the area of 9th St. and De Queen Blvd. and asked to purchase crack cocaine.

After negotiating the purchase of the cocaine, each suspect was arrested for the city ordinance violation of solicitation to purchase or acquire a prohibitive substance.

This offense is a class c misdemeanor.

Major Raymond Clark said the frequency of the stings conducted varies on the activities and complaints or traffic received.