IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A three-day sting in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula resulted in the arrest of seven people for the alleged human trafficking of children and vulnerable adults.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office led the collaborative effort with a handful of other law enforcement agencies, including several nearby county sheriff’s offices.

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In addition, TV host and investigative journalist Chris Hansen and his TruBlu film crew documented portions of the effort for show “To Catch a Predator.”

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office said that human trafficking is not just a big city problem, and that small town and rural communities are still targets.  In fact, traffickers use online platforms, messaging apps, and social media to reach their victims.

Officials say parents should monitor their children’s online activities and discuss the risks of sharing person details with strangers on the internet or in person. Suspicious activity can be reported to local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting “HELP” to 233733.