PORTSMOUTH — Three men have been arrested following a joint sting operation by the Portsmouth Police Detective Division and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) targeting sex trafficking.

On Friday July 18, members of the local Detective Division arrested two men following an undercover operation aimed at identifying people using websites and online platform to meet and engage with minors for sexual activity, according to a press release sent out by Detective Lt. Lee Trott of the department.

“It is alleged that the defendants traveled to a location in Portsmouth to engage in sexual activity with a minor,” police stated in the release. “A third individual was arrested during the undercover operation after attempting to engage in commercial sexual activity with an adult.”

As a result of the operation, the following individuals were charged:

• Duarte M. Arruda, 61, of Fall River, was charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity, and one count of indecent solicitation of a minor.

• Lee Berry, 41, of Delray Beach, Fla., was charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity, and one count of indecent solicitation of a minor.

• Damon A. Teixeira, 31, of Fall River, was charged with one count of procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, his first offense.

Arruda and Berry were arraigned by a justice of the peace and are scheduled to appear in Newport County District Court for their formal arraignment on Thursday, July 25.

Teixeira was processed and released with a summons to appear in Newport County District Court on Aug. 1 for his formal arraignment.

The investigation was conducted by the Portsmouth Police Detective Division, and HSI New England Field Office for Rhode Island, and assisted by the Warwick Police Department.