A Virginia State Police trooper who also serves as a Marine Corps Reserve officer is being credited with busting up a human trafficking ring involving young women earlier this month.

The trooper/Marine who is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., was staying at a hotel off Richmond Highway in Alexandria the weekend of May 5.

"[He] saw a young lady who seemed to be acting a bit differently, was dressed a bit differently," Marine Corps Col. John Cowart told WJLA. "And he saw a '13' tattooed on her arm, which really set off his alarm bells."

The reserve Marine officer, a lieutenant colonel who is not being identified by name, kept watching the young woman. Then jumped into action when a car arrived to pick her up.

Cowart said the trooper/Marine officer followed the car to a location just a few minutes away, called for backup and then shared information with police. Cowart said the trooper joined other state officers as they entered the building and found more young women tattooed with the number 13 and drugs.