BUNNELL, Fla. — A coordinated undercover operation targeting human trafficking and online sex solicitation in Flagler County has resulted in the rescue of three victims, the arrest of 10 individuals, and the seizure of drugs, firearms, and other evidence.
Dubbed “Operation Innocence Shield,” the multi-day effort was led by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force, along with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, and the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The operation ran from June 10 through June 14 and focused on disrupting online sex-market activity, identifying victims, and apprehending those exploiting vulnerable individuals.
During the initial phase, undercover detectives posed as buyers and responded to online advertisements for commercial sex services. When individuals arrived, investigators detained and interviewed them, evaluating each for signs of coercion, exploitation, and victimization.
That process led to the identification and rescue of three women believed by investigators to be victims of human trafficking.
“Operation Innocence Shield identified and rescued victims from the nightmarish world of human sex trafficking. Rescuing even one victim from being trafficked is priceless; this operation liberated three, and we may continue to be able to help more as the investigation continues,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.
Staly praised the collaborative nature of the operation and issued a warning to traffickers and buyers alike.
“I also want to warn human traffickers and those seeking sex on the internet: Watch out… you are next!” he said.
The operation’s second phase shifted focus to individuals seeking to purchase sex services, resulting in four additional arrests for solicitation. The final phase remains ongoing, with detectives now investigating three suspected traffickers identified through victim interviews and digital forensic evidence.
Authorities say more arrests could follow.
For Dr. Trish Giaccone, Executive Director of the Family Life Center, the operation highlights the reality of trafficking and the importance of victim-centered support.
The Family Life Center served as an emergency shelter for some of the rescued victims, providing immediate housing and crisis intervention.
“We housed victims when they needed support,” Giaccone said. “We made sure that we were connecting victims with appropriate resources, but we were the emergency shelter because some of these happened at two and three and four in the morning.”
Giaccone explained that while the legal definition of trafficking can differ from how service providers assess exploitation, the signs are often unmistakable.
“A victim doesn’t have that autonomy,” she said. “They’re doing it at the behest of someone else, for fear, or for other reasons that are not their own. They don’t get to set a price. They don’t get to keep the money.”
She emphasized that trafficking often doesn’t resemble the dramatic scenarios many imagine.
“It’s not the dark alley corner. That’s what most people think, and that’s not the case,” Giaccone said. “Most victims are actually trafficked by somebody they know — a family member, an acquaintance — someone using fear, finances, or basic needs as leverage.”
Recovery for survivors, she said, is a long road.
“Making sure they have basic needs first and foremost, safety planning, and connections to mental health, family, faith systems, or other long-term support is critical,” she said. “Sometimes that means relocating out of the area, and we’ve helped victims do that.”
The nonprofit Operation Light Shine is now assisting the rescued victims with ongoing resources and recovery support.
Executive Director Bryan Weight said the partnership between agencies is making a tangible difference.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also weighed in on the importance of aggressive enforcement.
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and there is no place for it here,” Uthmeier said.
Sheriff Staly encourages residents to learn the warning signs of trafficking and to report suspicious activity. Anyone who believes they may be a victim — or knows someone who may be — is urged to call 911 or contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
