More than 150 arrested in human trafficking crackdown during World Cup in Atlanta, officials say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — More than 150 people were arrested in a multi-agency law enforcement operation to crack down on human trafficking and child exploitation in metro Atlanta during the FIFA World Cup, federal and state officials announced Tuesday.

“Operation Red Card” resulted in 153 arrests, 11 of which were for child exploitation and 13 for human trafficking, Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for Georgia and Alabama, said during a news conference.

Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), described the operation as “a proactive undercover investigation and intel-gathering mission,” and said it was coordinated by HSI, the GBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and many local law enforcement agencies, among others. Related crackdowns under the name “Operation Red Card” also took place in and around other World Cup host cities.

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“As the world’s eyes turned to Atlanta during the World Cup, traffickers and predators saw an opportunity, but so did we in law enforcement,” Schrank said. “Operation Red Card was launched to confront the horrors of human trafficking and child exploitation head on.”

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Schrank said 129 arrests were for charges included pandering, narcotics violations, outstanding warrants, prostitution and related offenses.

He said 14 of those arrested were in the U.S. unlawfully, though none of them traveled to the country for the World Cup.

Authorities said they rescued 54 trafficking victims during the operation.

Of those 54 victims, 27 accepted victim services, included crisis intervention, medical care and safety planning, emergency shelter, transportation, food, clothing and connections to long-term services, and “are on a pathway to a new life,” said Jay Neal, executive director of the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

“I am certainly proud to be able to say that not only did we hold people accountable, not only have we gotten people off the streets, but we also gave new opportunities and hope to victims who otherwise felt like they had very little hope,” Neal said.

Schrank said the operation was conducted throughout metro Atlanta, though not near the matches or the FIFA Fan Festival in downtown Atlanta, because of safety issues the operation would present due to the large concentration of people in the area.

He said some suspects live in metro Atlanta and others traveled from outside.

Schrank pointed out that on July 1, Georgia enacted significant changes to its sex and human trafficking laws, making offenses like pimping and pandering felonies. The tougher laws took effect midway through the operation, resulting in “even stronger enforcement and greater accountability for offenders.”

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Schrank highlighted “some of the most egregious cases that we encountered,” which included a 30-year-old convicted felon who was arrested for child exploitation charges after engaging in explicit online conversations and traveling to meet with what he believed was a 14-year-old child for sexual encounters.

Schrank said the man arrived at the meetup spot with a shotgun and body armor in his vehicle.

In another case, a 25-year-old man was arrested on human trafficking charges after transporting a female victim to multiple locations for commercial sexual acts.

Schrank said the man “controlled her advertisements, he controlled arrangements with clients, he collected all proceeds and kept her under his direct control at hotels.” Officers reportedly found a gun in his car.

A 28-year-old man was also arrested for human trafficking after forcing a female victim into commercial sex acts and transporting her against her will, said Schrank, who added that the man was also found with a gun.

“These arrests and rescues are more than numbers. They represent lives changed, exploitation stopped, and our community made safer.” Schrank said. “Our message is clear: Atlanta is not a safe place for traffickers and predators. We will find them. We will bring these heinous predators to justice.”

Schrank encouraged anyone who suspects human trafficking or child exploitation to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.