Law enforcement officers in Fort Worth arrested more than 50 individuals for solicitation and drug possession during the FIFA World Cup Tournament, officials announced at a Monday news conference.
The Fort Worth Police Department and Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department partnered with the U.S. Secret Service over nine days in June and July to coordinate Operation Red Card, a targeted campaign set up to address human trafficking.
“This operation demonstrated what happens when those agencies share information, resources and common commitment to public safety,” Fort Worth police Chief Eddie Garcia said.
Fort Worth police Chief Eddie García speaks to reporters during a news conference about law enforcement activity around the FIFA World Cup on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Fort Worth. (Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News)
The operation had three parts — two in Arlington and one in Fort Worth — that resulted in a combined 56 arrests. Suspects are now awaiting their day in court after being arrested for attempting to purchase commercial sex, attempting to meet a minor for the purposes of sexual activity and narcotics.
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Local officials worked alongside the United States Secret Service — as well as local nonprofits Unbound Now and Rescue Hill — to recover and support 45 victims of human trafficking.
“These aren’t just case numbers,” Ryan Raybould, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said. “They represent predators taken off the streets and vulnerable individuals protected from harm.”
Operation Red Card was one of the many North Texas law enforcement campaigns that wereconducted to prevent human trafficking during and before the World Cup. Earlier this month, the Dallas Police Department announced officers made over 1,000 arrests during the tournament in operations targeting prostitution and related criminal activity.
Related: Dallas police worked with state, federal law enforcement for World Cup
Unlike the Dallas operations, which largely targeted the buyers, the Fort Worth operation was designed to locate and recover victims.
Amanda Pettit, CEO of Rescue Now, said that despite the different goals, both Dallas and Fort Worth officials supported “trauma informed” efforts to support victims.
“All law enforcement in our area has done a phenomenal job of making sure that all operations trauma informed, victim centered, focused really on recovery of the women,” Pettit said.
This Operation Red Card is different from a March operation with the same name, where law enforcement seized over 800 kilograms of meth, 280 guns, and arrested 200 people ahead of the World Cup.
Now, officials are looking to prosecute offenders at the state and federal level. Raybould said that two cases were referred for federal prosecutions, with several others expected in the coming months. Phil Sorrels, the Tarrant County district attorney, said he expects to handle a majority of the cases.
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This article originally published at Fort Worth trafficking operation nets 56 arrests during World Cup.