Federal agents apprehended more than 900 individuals suspected of human trafficking and rescued 180 victims, 30 of whom were children, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the results of the multi-agency operation on Wednesday.
The arrests were conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in collaboration with the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking and various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that law enforcement officers were actively working to dismantle human trafficking networks while fans attended World Cup events.
One significant operation took place in Dallas, where HSI agents arrested eight individuals accused of operating an adult bookstore that allegedly functioned as a brothel for over two decades. This investigation, which began in 2023, uncovered allegations of thousands of adults and children being sold for sex through the establishment. Investigators identified multiple victims, including one who was murdered in 2024, leading to a defendant's conviction and life sentence.
The eight suspects in the Dallas case face charges including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas.
In a separate incident in San Francisco, HSI agents, working with the FBI and local police, rescued two girls identified as potential victims of human trafficking. One of the girls had been reported missing from Bakersfield, California, since November 2025.
These efforts were part of a wider security initiative during the World Cup. DHS also reported seizing over 700 unauthorized drones, inspecting more than 19,000 vehicles destined for stadiums and fan festivals, and confiscating hundreds of thousands of counterfeit World Cup merchandise items valued at over $33 million. FBI Director Kash Patel previously highlighted the success of security operations for major events like the World Cup, noting zero major security incidents due to established protocols and personnel deployment.