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The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that federal law enforcement conducted a sweeping operation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, resulting in 905 arrests of suspected human traffickers and the rescue of 180 victims, including 30 children. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division led the effort in coordination with the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking and state and local agencies working across FIFA host cities nationwide.
DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis characterized the initiative as part of a broader crackdown on trafficking networks, stating that federal agents dismantled operations while the public attended World Cup events. The enforcement action underscores the administration’s commitment to combating human trafficking through coordinated federal resources during large-scale sporting events.
A significant case emerged Friday in Dallas, where Homeland Security Investigations arrested eight individuals operating what authorities described as an adult bookstore functioning covertly as a brothel for over two decades. The investigation, initiated in 2023, identified thousands of alleged victims, including adults and children sold for sex through the operation, with one victim murdered in 2024 and a defendant subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The eight suspects face charges encompassing sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion and money laundering conspiracy, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. In San Francisco, Homeland Security Investigations agents working with the FBI and local police rescued two girls believed trafficked, one of whom had been missing from Bakersfield, California, since November 2025.
Beyond trafficking enforcement, DHS reported broader security measures during the World Cup, including seizure of more than 700 unauthorized drones, inspection of more than 19,000 vehicles bound for stadiums and fan festivals, and confiscation of counterfeit World Cup merchandise valued at more than $33 million.
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