A police undercover human trafficking operation in Polk County, central Florida, led to the arrest of more than 200 people. Of a total of 24 women, eleven are Cuban women. They were recruited in Mexican territory, smuggled into the United States and brought to work as prostitutes, the county sheriff, Grady Judd, reported this Friday at a press conference.
The official said that there are some Cubans involved in the network. He did not define the number, but confirmed the data of the eleven Cubans. “They were deceived, they told them that they were going to facilitate their entry into the United States through coyotes and that they would pay later. They didn’t tell them how and they were misled,” Judd told a news conference in Winter Haven, a sleepy rural town on Highway 27 east of Tampa known for being home to a university, an airbase and one of the largest settlements. of Mexican immigrants.
Judd said the women likely started out as refugees traveling through Central America, but came into contact with a human smuggler who told them they would help them travel.
Upon arrival in Florida, as often happens, the criminals confiscated their passports and told them that they would have to engage in prostitution to pay off the debt. They were threatened with harm to their families in their home countries if they did not obey the traffickers.
Some of the Cubans were in the United States just two weeks ago. They do not have updated documentation.
“The victim of human trafficking is a very difficult victim because they are afraid. They tell them ‘hey, you can come to the United States and they’re going to open the border. Well, I don’t have the money to get there. I have a solution for you,’” Judd explained.
In addition to those identified as victims, four people with criminal records of prostitution were arrested during this operation. One of the clients had a prior arrest for soliciting prostitution. The rest are men who participated in some way in the network.
“Not only did we arrest more suspects than ever before, but we identified 24 victims of human trafficking, the largest number of victims we have ever rescued during one of these investigations,” Judd said. “The valuable relationships we have with the Social service organizations that accompany us in these operations make it possible for these women to receive help and emancipate themselves from this way of life.”
The undercover investigation, titled “Operation Traffic Stop,” involved multiple agencies and lasted a week.
