FREEPORT — Eleven men were arrested Thursday by Freeport police for the crime of engaging a prostitute.

Freeport police, working with neighboring police agencies, conducted an undercover “John” operation at a hotel on Route 1. The operation targeted customers of prostitution.

The Times Record said “the purpose of such an operation is to target customers or “Johns” of prostitutes because prostitution is a demand/supply business. Without the demand, the supply may decrease, Freeport police say.”

These men were arrested:

• William Policano, 28, of Windham;

• Baron Rogers, 60, of Hampton, Virginia;

• Leonard Merrill, 60, of Durham;

• Peter Light, 47, of South Portland;

• Christopher Lavalley, 31, of Lisbon Falls;

• Milan Simanic, 31, of Portland;

• Brian Jones, 48, of Augusta;

• Gerard Bowers, 53, of West Poland;

• John Verreault, 55, of Saco;

• Claude Cotnoir, 59, of Oxford;

• Hady El Ahmar, 42, of Berwick;

Freeport police remind the public that police departments in the Greater Portland area are actively targeting potential customers of prostitution, and they will be arrested if they engage a prostitute. Engaging in prostitution and engaging a Prostitute are both crimes according to Maine law.

According to The Times Record, Yarmouth Police Department, South Portland Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, Gorham Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Windham Police Department and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force assited in the operation.