EFFINGHAM COUNTY — The Illinois State Police arrested five men, including a 38-year-old Centralia man, as part of an anti-human trafficking operation in the Effingham area.

According to ISP, on Thursday, the ISP Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau led the operation focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts.

As a result of the operation, 38-year-old Scott Grote of Centralia was arrested for solicitation of a sexual act, as was 32-year-old Justin P. Covey, of Irvine, KY; 71-year-old David Hackett, of Tuscola, Ill.; and 50-year-old Thad D. White, of Cowden, Ill.

The fifth man, 38-year-old Daniel A. Bennett, of Bethany, Ill., was arrested for Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child, Solicitation to Meet a Child

ISP says the operation was part of a multifaceted approach aimed at stopping human trafficking in Illinois.

If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733.

For more information visit humantraffickinghotline.org.  You can also email ISP.Crime.Tips@illinois.gov.