“We have to attack this scourge by curbing the demand,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Monday, referring to those who seek to buy sex in the Buckeye State.

He was announcing the arrests of 132 people as part of a statewide human-trafficking operation that involved more than 100 law enforcement agencies, with major activities in Akron, Columbus, Cleveland, Marietta, Portsmouth, Toledo and the Mahoning Valley.

Operation END-OHHT, named after the state’s human trafficking hotline, had three purposes: round up as many suspects as possible, help those victimized by human trafficking and instill fear in those who might be considering engaging in prostitution and related crimes.

To that end, 110 people were arrested and face charges of engaging in prostitution or solicitation, 22 face felony charges of seeking commercial sex with a minor and / or possessing narcotics, and 74 human trafficking survivors were identified and referred to health care and social service organizations.

That kind of success doesn’t come without the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies all over the state.

The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force played a significant role in making the arrests, according to Yost’s office.

The local men and their charges, according to a news release from Yost’s office, include:

• Forrest Couch Sr., 49, of Warren, engaging in prostitution.

• Craig Forest, 61, of Youngstown, solicitation in connection with prostitution.

• Scott Gorby, 31, of New Middletown, engaging in prostitution and related offenses.

• Eric Knoch, 57, of Newton Falls, soliciting prostitution and possession of criminal tools.

• David Miscimarra, 62, of Boardman, solicitation in connection with prostitution.

• Scott Pelton, 27, of Cortland, solicitation and engaging in prostitution.

lNicholas Poore, 31, of Youngstown, charges relate to soliciting prostitution.

Combine such a sweeping effort with those who are helping by reporting their suspicions to the state’s new human trafficking hotline (844-END-OHHT), and it’s easy to see why Yost hopes the sting will serve as a deterrent.

“Operation END-OHHT reinforced the consequences for those who think that engaging in prostitution is permissible,” Yost said. “Our message is simple: Don’t buy sex in Ohio!”

Well done, to those whose hard work has (and will continue to) hammered home that message.