A dozen people were arrested in a reverse prostitution sting aimed at eliminating prostitution from Mount Laurel.

Mount Laurel Police said they carried out the sting in the hotel/motel district of the township in cooperation with the Westampton and Cherry Hill police departments, as well as a number of area businesses, including many of the 26 hotels and motels in Mount Laurel.

“The Mount Laurel Police Department has partnered with area businesses and local law enforcement agencies to address the crimes that affect the quality of life for all of those who reside in, do business in and visit Mount Laurel,” read a release from the police department.

The release went on to say that operations, like the aforementioned sting, would continue “until criminal prostitution organizations are eradicated from the township.”

Twelve people were arrested in the sting:

• Bryan A. Mendenhall, 31, of Bensalem, PA — Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in Prostitution
• Soby Itty, 44, of Sicklerville — Engaging in Prostitution
• Gregory J. Truitt, 43, of Medford — Engaging in Prostitution
• Edward T. Keenan, 32, of Browns Mills — Engaging in Prostitution
• William G. Wilson, 50, of Delran — Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in Prostitution
• John P. Peralta, 30, of Voorhees — Engaging in Prostitution
• Saurabh Sarin, 35, of Voorhees — Engaging in Prostitution
• John W. Henrie, 39, of Mount Laurel — Engaging in Prostitution
• Warren S. Jones Jr., 57, of Pitman — Engaging in Prostitution
• Kaushal R. Prajapati, 36, of Cherry Hill — Engaging in Prostitution
• Edward K. Whiteley, 57, of Pennsauken — Engaging in Prostitution
• Nicholas C. Colangelo, 25, of Delran — Engaging in Prostitution

Mount Laurel Police said they conducted 47 investigations last year into prostitution-related activity within the township, which resulted in 49 arrests.

Police said the sting operation could not have been successful without the cooperation of local business partners in the hotel industry and funding from the MAGLOCLEN (Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network).

According to Mount Laurel Police, the primary objectives of the operation were: to put everyone within the prostitution industry at enhanced risk of identification, apprehension and prosecution; deter all prostitution-related offenses and activities in the hotel/motel district; and identify and apprehend the patrons of prostitutes to reduce the ancillary crimes associated with prostitution, including, petty theft and narcotics offenses, robbery, sexual assault and human trafficking.

Information provided by Mount Laurel Police. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.