Fridley police arrested 23 people in a two-day prostitution sting.

Four women and 19 men were cited during the operation, which ended Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the LivINN Suites, according to Lt. Mike Monsrud, spokesman for Fridley police.

The women were picked up for prostitution. The men were ticketed for soliciting sex from a prostitute.

Nearly all of the offenses were misdemeanors. One woman faces a gross misdemeanor because she has been arrested for prostitution before, Monsrud said.

The sting was staged by undercover officers pretending to either buy or sell sex via online escort service sites, such as Backpage.com.

The arrests were made after money was exchanged, Monsrud said.

Similar to other cities, Fridley has increased its efforts to combat prostitution in recent years as the Internet-based sex trade has evolved.

It conducts about two stings a year.

Prostitution is often accompanied by narcotics and can sometimes involve human trafficking, an area of particular interest for Fridley police, Monsrud said. He noted the department has had cases reach the federal level after determining a prostitute working in the city was the victim of human trafficking.

Sarah Horner can be reached at 651-228-5539. Follow her at twitter.com/hornsarah.