According to the American newspaper The New York Postduring the Worldthe New York City Police Department (NYPDin English) launched a massive operation against human trafficking, through which authorities detained 90 people and rescued dozens of victimsincluding a minor.
“A series of operations carried out before and during the World Cup 2026which lasted 39 days, resulted in 90 arrests and the rescue of 43 people who were being victims of sex trafficking in the hotel rooms,” reported the inspector Gary Marcuscommander of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit.
According to Gary Marcus, seven of the rescued people had just completed their most of age, so the researchers surveilled gatherings to watch the games, monitored the dark corners of Internet and visited sex traffickers previously convicted while the World Cup was taking place in the USA.
“We saw our agents in those large concentrations, but what they did not see were our researchers working behind the scenes, gathering information, identifying traffickers and interacting with the victims to try to rescue them,” declared Gary Marcus, who stated that the plan was prepared for almost four years.
Criminals and sex traffickers
“We wanted to let them know that we know who they are and that we are watching. Some of those people broke the rules and were arrested“Gary Marcus added, after mentioning that agents focused their efforts on sex offenders and sex traffickers with criminal record before the 2026 World Cup.
“We intercepted an online communication, we understood that he was a victim of sexual trafficking and “We were able to rescue her from the place where they were holding her and get her out of that horrible situation,” added the New York Police Department inspector, who carried out 87 operational, some of which required “years of planning.”
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“We had defenders in the operations department of the hotel, sitting in a room right next door, so as soon as we took one out survivor of that situation, he could meet with an advocate, talk about services and really calm things down in a situation really scary at that time,” he explained.
For her part, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Policies and Planning on Gender Violence, Kathleen Baersaid that, in the rescue of a minor, they also partnered with different advocacy organizations to help connect the victim with the necessary services immediately after being rescued.
Trafficking during the World Cup
“Therefore, we encourage people that, if they see something suspiciousreport it and call the hotline. If something doesn’t seem right, we will investigate it. Maybe it’s nothing, but maybe it is, and they could save your life. life to someone,” said Kathleen, who has been part of terrifying human trafficking situations, where sexually depraved people are detained.
According to Baer, the most important thing is the quick arrest of sex offenders who have sexually exploited to the victims. Likewise, other states also deployed operations, such as atlantawhere 153 arrests were recorded and 54 trafficking victims were identified, or Kansas City, where nine minors were rescued.