In motel rooms amid the Capital Region’s suburban sprawl, women sell their bodies in a world of sex, drugs and sleaze.

Pimps reel in customers through highly suggestive Internet advertisements for erotic massages or escort services that authorities say are cover for the world’s oldest profession.

In Colonie, police say prostitution has been an increasing problem in recent years.

“We’re certainly aware that prostitution activity is taking place in the hotels along Wolf Road, Central Avenue, Route 9, (Route) 155,” said Lt. Robert Winn of the Colonie Police Department.

“It’s a plus for the town that we have so many hotels, but it also provides an unfortunate place for this prostitution activity to take place.”

In 2012, Colonie police made nine prostitution-related arrests. In 2013, they made 29, said Winn.

He said the increased activity prompted the department to crack down through undercover investigations, at times with assistance from State Police, the Albany County sheriff’s office and Albany police.

Winn said the sex trade in Colonie is advertised on Internet websites, predominantly on www.backpage.com. The site contains a disclaimer that asks users to report illegal services, but police say it does not stop illegal activity from taking place.

“Right now, it is the most popular website that we’re aware of,” Winn said. “They advertise themselves as escorts and massage but what, in fact, is going on is prostitution.”

On Christmas Eve, various ads on the site left little to the imagination.

“Pure pleasure & satisfaction is guaranteed,” promised one Albany advertisement next to a picture of a woman in a bikini on a bed. The headline: “Exotic Kitten. Play. Pounce. Make Me Purr. 24.7.”

Another stated: “‘HAVE’ me. We’ll have fun with my soft 34Cs.”

Another ad said: “I am your friend with benefits, and a married man’s best kept secret! Prompt, discreet & confidential. Just the way you like it.”

In the midst of similar advertisements was one for Children of the Night, an organization that describes itself as “rescuing America’s children from prostitution.” The ad was clearly directed at prostitutes who want out of the profession.

“Tired of Turning Tricks?” asked the ad. “Pimps Don’t Care. We Do!”

The backpage.com site was key in the recent trial of John “Pupi” Hammond, a reputed pimp from Providence who faced up to 25 years on felony sex-trafficking charges. His trial ended in a mistrial because jurors were deadlocked.

The prosecution said Hammond placed an ad on backpage.com on Aug. 22, 2012, touting a “sexy girl from next door.”

Authorities said Hammond selected a Wolf Road hotel as the location for a 23-year-old prostitute to pay off her “debt” to him. They said he supplied women with cocaine, heroin and, by his own words, he shared drugs with the women and provided “protection.”

The rise in crime associated with prostitution — such as drug use — and the potential for violence prompted police to step up enforcement last summer.

“We were getting men that were reporting robberies when, in fact, it was prostitution deals that had gone bad,” Winn said. “We were getting girls that were reporting robberies — it was the prostitutes that were getting ripped off by the johns. We had complaints going on because there were a variety of different pimps that were working. They would intimidate the girls of other pimps. So we became aware that it certainly was picking up in the town.”

Most of this year’s arrests in Colonie were made during four undercover operations in June, July and August at hotels on Central Avenue, Wolf Road and Old Loudon Road, Winn said. He said undercover male officers posed as customers to target prostitutes and female police officers posed as prostitutes to target those who patronize them.

The 2013 arrests included 13 for prostitution, 13 for patronizing a prostitute and three for promoting prostitution.

In 2012, the numbers were five for prostitution, two for promoting prostitution and two for sex-trafficking.

rgavin@timesunion.com • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinTU