A Westport man has been arrested on sex and attempted rape charges after Swansea, Somerset and state police conducted a sting earlier this week.

Manuel R. Costa, 39, of Westport, faces charges of enticing a child under the age of 16, sexual conduct for a fee with a child under the age of 18, and attempted rape of a child under the age of 16. Fellow defendants David J. Afriyie, 19, of Pawtucket, and Joseph Wood, 38, of Hanson, Ma., face the same charges.

The arrests came after Swansea and Somerset detectives, along with the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit, conducted a sting Tuesday, Feb. 25, targeting individuals seeking to engage in commercial sexual relations with minors, Swansea police reported.

During the sting, an undercover officer posed as a minor under the age of 16 — “individuals later determined to be Afriyie, Wood and Costa went to a designated place in Swansea with the belief they would be meeting the minor and engaging in sexual relations,” police wrote.

Bail for all three defendants at $5,000. Costa posted bail and was released, and Afriyie and Wood were ordered held at the Bristol County House of Correction in New Bedford.

“This was a great example of state and local law enforcement working together to protect our most vulnerable population,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley said. “As a team, we were able to tackle a very serious issue that, unfortunately, no community is immune from. We will do everything in our power to protect the children in our communities.”