INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — The Indian River County Sheriff's Office announced more than 50 arrests following a multi-agency, multi-day operation targeting human trafficking and illegal sexual activity in the county.
WATCH BELOW: Indian River County Sheriff's Office reveals results of multi-agency operation
Operation Late Checkout ran from Sept. 10 through Sept. 13 in Indian River County. The operation netted over 60 contacts, more than 50 arrests, and three ICE detainers, Sheriff Eric Flowers said during a press conference on Thursday.
Flowers announced the results alongside a representative from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
"Agencies involved in the operation included the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Altamonte Springs Police Department, Vero Beach Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Office of Statewide Prosecutor and the U.S. Attorney's Office," Flowers said.
The operation's targeted goal was stopping human trafficking in the Indian River County area, the sheriff's office said.
During the operation, several victims were identified, and investigators said ongoing investigations are underway. Flowers said there are no specific arrests on human trafficking charges at this time.
One case involved a man who traveled to Indian River County to meet a minor. Flowers said the arrest was the result of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force working across agencies to apprehend individuals attempting to lure children online.
"Our team did a great job of getting him off the street," Flowers said.
Undercover teams were deployed in a variety of capacities during the operation, the sheriff's office said. Victims' advocates trained to work with trafficking victims were also on hand to speak with women involved in prostitution to determine whether they were being trafficked.
"We have many ongoing investigations as a result of this," Flowers said.
Flowers called the operation unprecedented for Indian River County.
"We've never had an investigation like this, to my knowledge, in Indian River County with this many agencies involved, with this many arrests in one shot," he said.
FDLE Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alfonso Williams said Operation Late Checkout was initiated by FDLE in coordination with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office and is the first operation of this magnitude conducted in the county.
"This operation shows that within our communities there are dangerous individuals committing heinous crimes who think they can get away with it," Williams said.
Williams said the operation focused on identifying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for prostitution, and apprehending individuals seeking sexual contact with minors.
"Our work is far from done," Williams said. "This operation requires a lot of resources and time. We cannot do this work alone, and our success depends on the great partnership and collaboration that you see today."
FDLE said it houses the Florida Trafficking Hotline. Anyone who suspects someone is a victim of trafficking can contact the hotline at 1-855-352-7233.
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