Ads tamer, but sex still selling online

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Sex sells, and according to vice cops it still sells on Craigslist despite the promise by the popular social networking Web site nearly three months ago to clean up its act.

It's easy to find ads there that say "looking for a good time," "I enjoy what I do; I promise you will too," or "don't wait a second longer."

These people on Craigslist are looking for something, but vice cops say it's not legal.

"They're not just looking for men to date," said an Albuquerque Police Department vice detective said Thursday. "I'd say 99.9 percent are prostitutes."

The officer, who works undercover assignments, agreed to be interviewed on the condition his identity not be revealed.

The officer said he was initially psyched when Craigslist announced in May it would remove its Erotic Services section, carefully screen postings and charge $10 each for what had been free ads.

"First reaction: good, they're finally going to do something about it," he said adding he quickly learned little changed.

Now cops say the a new Adult Services section sports sex for sale with the same red flag words like "in calls" and "out calls," "no blocked calls," "no text messages" and even listing rates.

With the exception toning down some of the pictures, has anything changed?

"No," the officer said. "It's frustrating for us because Craigslist said it was going to change. It didn't really change."

Some of the women he busted before the change are still advertising, he added.

Another, Latasha Brown, was arrested on a prostitution charge two weeks ago. Her ad was back up a week later.

If prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, policing it may be second.

"We'll be out there as long as they'll be out there," the detective said.

Local cops say they will continue to go after the people posting and responding to the ads with at least two stings a month.

KRQE News 13 e-mailed Craigslist Thursday about the issue but did not receive a response.

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King was among 40 attorneys general to take action against Craigslist. His office said it's watching ongoing negotiations with the networking site.