71 Arrested, 97 Potential Victims Identified: New Jersey Steps Up Fight Against Human Trafficking During the FIFA World Cup
TRENTON, NJ — While a nationwide operation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and its partners during the FIFA World Cup resulted in the arrest of more than 900 suspected human traffickers across the country, New Jersey conducted its own separate operation, the results of which have now been released.
The New Jersey State Police made 71 arrests during operations carried out before and throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. Of those arrested, 40 were accused of attempting to purchase commercial sex, while 31 others were charged with related offenses. Authorities also identified and provided assistance to 97 individuals believed to be potential victims of human trafficking.
The multi-agency effort was led by the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police, with assistance from 44 local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Operations were conducted before and during the tournament, including the period when MetLife Stadium hosted eight FIFA World Cup matches, with dozens of enforcement actions carried out across multiple counties between May and July.
“The Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police worked seamlessly with our law enforcement partners at every level of government, leading to the identification and recovery of dozens of residents who had suffered exploitation and trauma,” Davenport said.
The Bigger Picture: The New York–New Jersey Region
New Jersey was not acting alone. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported 89 arrests and assistance provided to 43 survivors, including seven minors, through operations connected to matches at MetLife Stadium and other locations throughout New York City.
Combined, law enforcement agencies in New York and New Jersey made more than 150 arrests during the World Cup period.
The National Picture
New Jersey’s operation was part of a broader nationwide effort to combat human trafficking during the FIFA World Cup. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Center for Countering Human Trafficking, and their federal, state, and local partners arrested 905 suspects and identified 180 potential victims, including 150 adults and 30 children.
Operations were conducted in multiple cities and states across the country, including Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nashville, New York, and the New Jersey area, where authorities increased enforcement efforts because of the large influx of visitors during the tournament.
One of the largest individual cases was uncovered in Dallas, where federal agents arrested eight people accused of operating an illegal brothel disguised as an adult bookstore for more than two decades.
It remains unclear whether any arrests made during New Jersey’s operation overlap with the national DHS figures, as the statistics were released separately—one representing the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice’s operation, and the other reflecting federal and partner operations conducted nationwide.
The operations demonstrate that combating human trafficking was one of the top public safety priorities surrounding the world’s biggest sporting event, with authorities focusing not only on arrests but also on identifying victims and disrupting criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals during large international gatherings.
Sources: New Jersey Office of the Attorney General; New Jersey Globe; Gothamist; CBS News; U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).