Operation Guardian Force Leads to Arrests and Rescues
Recently, a significant law enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of at least seventy-two individuals and the rescue of 29 victims of human trafficking. This two-week mission involved various agencies across the state.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch from Mississippi detailed that this initiative, called Operation Guardian Force, was spearheaded by multiple teams including the Human Trafficking Task Force, the Fentanyl Strike Force, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The operation, which took place from July 14 to 29, engaged around 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who worked together to execute search warrants, make arrests, and provide services for victims.
“My office is committed to taking criminals who traffic people and drugs off the streets and is equally committed to setting victims on the road to recovery. I am proud of the dedicated investigators and prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office, as well as our partners in local, state, and federal law enforcement, for their work on this operation and every day to keep our communities safe,” said Fitch, highlighting also the support from President Trump in prioritizing the fight against human trafficking and fentanyl.
Andrew Gradison, the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families, was present to observe the operation. His visit underscored the administration’s dedication to ensuring vulnerable children and families are safer through effective initiatives.
“The Trump Administration will partner with anyone who will join us in the fight against human trafficking,” Gradison remarked, expressing his appreciation for witnessing the collaboration between law enforcement and victim assistance in Mississippi.
Several law enforcement agencies took part in this operation, including:
- Bay St. Louis Police Department
- Biloxi Police Department
- Desoto County Sheriff’s Office
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Forrest County Sheriff’s Office
- Harrison County Sheriff’s Office
- Hattiesburg Police Department
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
- Horn Lake Police Department
- Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
- Jones County Sheriff’s Office
- Lamar County Sheriff’s Office
- Lee County Sheriff’s Office
- Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI)
- Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN)
- Mississippi Department of Revenue – Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
- Mississippi Office of Homeland Security
- North MS Narcotics Task Force
- Saltillo Police Department
- Southaven Police Department
- Stone County Sheriff’s Office
- Tunica County Sheriff’s Office
- Tupelo Police Department
- Wayne County Sheriff’s Office
Alongside law enforcement, organizations like the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, Center for Violence Prevention, and Transformation Garden provided essential services to the rescued victims.
