Operation Summer Shield, focused on Central Florida human trafficking, resulted in 148 arrests and the recovery of seven victims.
For more than 102 days, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Squad worked tirelessly on Operation Summer Shield, resulting in the arrests of 148 individuals and the recovery of seven victims, two being juveniles only 17 years old. Eleven people were charged with human trafficking.
Operation Summer Shield was created because local law enforcement wanted to do more in the summer months because children were out of school and had more time and more exposure to the internet. Operation Summer Shield was tremendously successful, according to the Sheriff. But he added that the results were also worrisome.
He said the demand to purchase sex was so great, the squad had to purchase an additional room to keep up with the number of people wanting to purchase sex. Ten individuals were under arrest in only two hours when the operation first started.
Sheriff Chad Chronister and HCSO have a relentless commitment to protect the vulnerable and bring traffickers to justice. They said they are committed to stopping predators and the sex trade.
“Our mission is clear: to protect our community and hold traffickers accountable,” said Sheriff Chronister. “We will not rest until every victim is safe and every trafficker is behind bars. Let me be clear: traffickers, your days of exploiting innocent people are over in Hillsborough County.”
Since Sheriff Chronister established the Human Trafficking Squad in June 2021, it has resulted in 793 arrests and the recovery of 42 victims.
Thank God for sheriff Chronister! I pray he will continue in his efforts, with much help, to bring these evil people down and save the children! Kudos to you, sheriff!!!