PHOENIX — A Phoenix motel has been seized and shut down following an investigation by the Phoenix Police Department and the FBI into drug trafficking and prostitution on the property, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Phoenix police officers assisted the FBI with the execution of search warrants at the Royal Inn early Tuesday morning as part of an investigation that lasted more than two years, according to federal officials.
During a briefing about the operation Tuesday afternoon, Phoenix Police Department Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro described the property as a "prolific neighborhood problem."
He also described the property near Interstate 17 and Bethany Home Road as a nexus for criminal activity.
The investigation has identified individuals who have been charged with drug trafficking and prostitution-related charges but at this time the indictment does not include human trafficking charges.
One person has been arrested in connection to the investigation but multiple arrest warrants are still pending including for the owners and operators of the Royal Inn, according to Gary Restaino with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The owners and operators of the motel are not currently facing charges connected to human trafficking, however, federal officials say they had been advised that dangerous activities were taking place on the property.
Law enforcement officials say the owners of the Royal Inn knowingly owned and operated a place used for sexual exploitation.
More than a thousand victims have been identified over the course of the investigation, according to the FBI.
In a statement about the closure of the Royal Inn, Phoenix City Councilwoman Betty Guardado said, "The closure of the Royal Inn has been a critical piece missing from our strategy to restore safety in the neighborhood. The community has long called for action against a property owner who has allowed criminal activities to thrive on his premises. We are incredibly grateful for the support from the City of Phoenix Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations in this matter. Their commitment-alongside that of community leaders and organizations-has been instrumental in moving us toward safer living conditions for all our residents."
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