Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the new Florida Human Trafficking Strike Team to fight back against transnational criminal organizations exploiting Biden’s open border to bring trafficking victims into the United States.
The Florida Human Trafficking Strike Team is comprised of Attorney General Moody’s Statewide Prosecutors, Florida Department of Law Enforcement analysts and agents, Hillsborough County and Pasco County deputies, as well as counter-human trafficking investigators and victim advocates to assist local law enforcement in identifying and tracking down leads in trafficking cases across the state.
“Biden’s border crisis is emboldening transnational criminal organizations, and as a result, we are seeing horrific human trafficking cases right here in Florida,” Republican Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said. “The disturbing facts of this case highlight the need for our new statewide Strike Team, and demonstrate how this expert team of investigators, prosecutors, analysts, and victims’ advocates can help coordinate efforts to take down trafficking operations and rescue victims. Until Biden does his job and closes the border, we must continue to develop new methods to deal with international crime rings that exploit Biden’s reckless agenda to perpetuate crime in Florida.”
The announcement of the new team follows a multiagency operation to dismantle a massive trafficking ring in the Tampa Bay area and rescue 10 victims in the Lina Payne investigation.
“By working together, we have a better chance at stopping bad actors, like the suspects in today’s case, from abusing and taking advantage of victims who, in some cases, are just trying to survive,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said. “I am grateful to Attorney General Ashley Moody for her continuous support and to our agents and agency partners for their diligence in making sure these criminals can’t take advantage of vulnerable people anymore.”
In addition to combating trafficking directly, the team provides intelligence, guidance and support to law enforcement agencies throughout the state and is available to coordinate emergency victim support services.
The Florida Human Trafficking Strike Team is already assisting local law enforcement with more than 20 human trafficking cases and making contact with nearly 40 victims, including 10 victims at the center of the Lina Payne investigation.
The team works directly with the new statewide human trafficking tip line, 855-FLA-SAFE, to quickly review reports of suspected trafficking and engage with appropriate law enforcement agencies to rescue victims.
