Twelve people have been charged with prostitution/human trafficking Tuesday as part of an on going investigation by several local and statewide law-enforcement agencies.

In partnership with the Law Enforcement Intelligence Network, surveillance and undercover officers were used with the purpose of impeding human trafficking within sex trade, according to a released statement.

Prostitution is an aggravated misdemeanor.

The agencies involved in this effort were the Iowa City police, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Coralville police, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, State Patrol, University of Iowa police, the Johnson County County Attorney’s Office, and the North Liberty police.

Overall, more than 40 law-enforcement officers had a variety of roles in the investigation.

— by Tom Ackerman