Last week, when Polk County law enforcement arrested 228 people in connection with a human trafficking bust, the media did mention that 21 of that 228 arrested were in the country illegally but failed to mention the details of their involvement.
After the arrest, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd detailed how an undercover human trafficking operation in Florida nailed 21 illegal immigrants who used documents given to them by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fly to major cities in the U.S. for free.
Sheriff Judd said the illegals came into the country illegally, and then DHS gave them a form, an ID, and the paperwork that allowed them to fly anywhere for free.
After they were arrested and interrogated, the illegals gave specifics on how they came to Florida. Sheriff Judd said they fly to major metro centers where they set up their appointments for sex all around the country.
The 21 illegals arrested in Florida were from the countries of Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Cuba, and Guatemala.
“Federal policy drives illegal immigrant crime and victimization, and they are flying to these individuals around for free to engage in sex trafficking,” Judd said.
Judd said among those illegals that were arrested, three were women from Venezuela. Their driver, who is also an illegal immigrant, drove them from New York City to central Florida and a human female trafficker controlled all the ladies.
When confronting the 21 illegal immigrants who were arrested after the sting, the Sheriff’s office said they all had the same story on how they arrived in Florida.
44 suspects also brought illegal drugs like fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, MDMA, hydrocodone, and Xanax.
15 brought firearms, resulting in 17 guns being seized.
Those arrested were charged with soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or aiding and abetting prostitutes.
Law enforcement said with all the arrests, 70 were felonies, and 288 were misdemeanors.
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