FORT MYERS, Fla. — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fort Myers and the Southwest Florida (SWFL) Inter-agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking (INTERCEPT) Task Force held a press conference Jan. 8, 2025, to highlight the successes of the unique multi-agency partnership during its first year.
To date, the SWFL INTERCEPT Task Force has initiated 1,052 investigations, conducted more than 158 search warrants, made 63 arrests, identified 90 victims, and combed through terabytes of data. The INTERCEPT Task Force operations are highly sensitive due to the nature of the crimes and often require swift action due to the movement of the suspects and their movement of the victims. These investigations have involved child exploitation and human trafficking and are the result of extensive and detailed work by the highly trained members of INTERCEPT Task Force.
The Southwest Florida INTERCEPT Task Force is a unique partnership that takes a collaborative and coordinated approach by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to rescue victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Financial, technical, and resource support from Operation Light Shine allow law enforcement agencies to better serve Southwest Florida communities and the many victims of this modern-day slavery.
“This unique collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the nonprofit organizations, working hand-in-hand over the past year to rescue victims and prosecute their predators has been successfully working very well,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “These task force members continually demonstrate their collective passion and dedication to combat the modern-day slavery of human trafficking and child exploitation.”
“Human trafficking, child trafficking, and child exploitation are some of the biggest threats facing Southwest Florida,” said Florida State Attorney Amira Fox. “The monsters that attempt to find and abuse victims, try to stay cloaked in darkness and hide their crimes. The INTERCEPT Task Force shines a light on those attempting to hide, by allowing all of the crime fighting experience at multiple agencies and all of our technology, to come together and be utilized as one strong and extremely focused unit. This is what leads to victims being rescued and perpetrators being arrested and prosecuted, saving others from becoming victims.”
“FDLE constantly works with its partner criminal justice agencies statewide to bring those involved in human exploitation to justice and provide services to victims forced into these horrific situations,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Ft. Myers Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson. “FDLE is proud to be a part of the INTERCEPT Task Force in the fight against human trafficking.”
This partnership pools financial, technical, and other resources of regional law enforcement partners who are dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. The collaborative approach of bringing together the experience and expertise of local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals greatly enhances the ability to combat the many difficulties and challenges presented by the complexities of child exploitation and human trafficking investigations.
“As Sheriff of Collier County, I want to thank everyone involved in this groundbreaking public/private task force,” said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “INTERCEPT allows local, state, and federal law enforcement to work together seamlessly to investigate and arrest criminals and protect victims throughout our region and beyond. I also thank Operation Light Shine for providing the task force with critical support and investigative resources. In its relatively short lifetime, the INTERCEPT Task Force has proven to be a valuable law enforcement tool. I look forward to our continued participation and more investigative successes ahead.”
“We are truly grateful to be part of the Southwest Florida INTERCEPT Task Force and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners who have worked tirelessly to combat human trafficking and child exploitation,” said Marco Island Police Department Chief Tracy Frazzano. “This success is the result of the collective efforts of many, and we are humbled to contribute in any way possible.”
A little more than a year ago, HSI Fort Myers and law enforcement leaders in Southwest Florida partnered with Operation Light Shine to enhance efforts in combating human trafficking. The technology required to combat online child exploitation is highly specialized and costly. Investigations often involve numerous electronic devices that need to be forensically examined with enormous volume of images and videos.
The SWFL INTERCEPT Task Force provides a more direct and focused approach, allowing a swift multi-agency response to apprehend and prosecute offenders, as well as to identify victims and bring them to safety. Including HSI Fort Myers, the other members of the task force are U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, State Attorney’s Office – 20th Judicial Circuit, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, Naples Police Department, Marco Island Police Department, Cape Coral Police Department, Fort Myers Police Department, Lee County Port Authority Police, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Department of Justice South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Human traffickers use various forms of force, fraud, and coercion to control and exploit victims, including imposing debt, fraudulent employment opportunities, false promises of education or a better life, psychological coercion, and violence or threats of violence.
Evidence suggests human trafficking, whether sex trafficking or forced labor, takes place every day and in commonplace settings. Forced labor cases across all industries — construction, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality — even local restaurants and homes with domestic workers. Human trafficking takes the form of sex trafficking on the street, in hotels, in private homes, and is often advertised online. This is an ever-evolving crime where traffickers continually find new ways to exploit people and avoid detection.
Human trafficking, whether through sex or labor, is a detriment to society and threatens the moral conscience of the nation. Criminal organizations target those who are most vulnerable and exploit them through any means necessary. Victims are treated as commodities rather than human beings, with no regard for their health and well-being.
HSI Tampa’s area of responsibility, which includes 10 geographically strategic offices, covers more than 51,600 square miles of the total 65,757 square miles in the state of Florida. This region has more than 14.2 million people and includes 58 of the 67 counties. HSI Tampa also includes five of the 10 largest cities in Florida, 15 primary commercial service airports, and 11 seaports.
Learn more about HSI Tampa’s mission to increase public safety in Florida communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSITampa.
To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.