This is 90% politics--local, feminists, and bible belt Thumpers.
Yes, trafficking is real, does happen at AMPs, and is slavery. But all the people behind these stings really don't care about the reality, it is much better for their story line if they publicize that ALL sex workers are trafficked.
As a result they are happy to arrest, embarrass, and harass the wonem and clients who are not at all connected with force, gangs, trafficing.
The right thing to do would be legalize it, and hit the gangs/drugs/money laundering/slavery people. But no, ALL sex must be immoral, NO ONE possibly does this on their own, etc. So let's impose Thumper morals on everyone and put it on the nightly news for votes.