TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Seven people were arrested in Tallahassee after a multi-agency human trafficking operation that investigators say also underscored how easily trafficking can go unnoticed in everyday places.
Investigators said Florida consistently ranks among the top three states for human trafficking complaints. In 2025, they said one out of every three complaints they received involved children.
That information helped lead to Operation Lighthouse, a collaborative effort between the Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The operation resulted in seven arrests.
“If you come to Tallahassee and you attempt to exploit somebody, for personal means in the form of trafficking, at any capacity, we will shine a light on that… and you will be brought to justice,” said Sgt. Dan Warren of the Tallahassee Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.
Investigators said the impact of human trafficking can extend beyond an arrest or a single victim. Victims can be trapped for months or even years, they said, while traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to isolate them from family, friends and the community.
“Human trafficking doesn’t just affect the victim themselves. It expands to their families, their loved ones, their friends, and communities. It steals something that every human being has a right to, and that’s hope,” Warren said.
While Operation Lighthouse has ended, those involved said the work to find victims and those exploiting them is continuing.
“So, the folks out there who are combating these crimes know that we’re not going to stop. We’ll continue to do these operations to make sure that everybody is safe and that the crime that they bring to our communities leave as well,” said Katie Yaryan, Executive Director of Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force.
Police said community awareness can be key to identifying possible human trafficking, which investigators say can occur in everyday settings and often go unnoticed. They encouraged anyone who sees a concerning situation or feels something is not right to report it to law enforcement.
“We need every member of this community to be vigilant and looking for these types of things… you may very well save the life of a child that’s being trafficked,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence E. Revell said.
For people experiencing trafficking, police said fear and isolation can make it difficult to ask for help, but they want victims to know support is available.
“I think the biggest message that I could give is there is hope… If someone forces you into some terrible situation, that’s not your fault. You can reach out to local law enforcement for help and for assistance, despite what you’ve been told, because we truly are here for you,” Warren said.
Investigators said every potential victim they met with in person during Operation Lighthouse was given the opportunity to speak with a victim advocate and receive resources for both immediate and ongoing needs.