NYPD says dozens rescued from human trafficking during World Cup
There were 89 people arrested over the course of the World Cup for involvement in human-trafficking rings, the NYPD said.
Updated on: July 23, 2026 / 12:00 PM EDT / CBS News
Forty-three people, including seven minors, were rescued from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in the New York City area, according to the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit.
The rescue operations were carried out between June 11 and July 19 by specialized NYPD detectives who arrested 89 individuals accused of running human-tracking rings during the World Cup.
"The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners," said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit.
Those rescued, largely the victims of sex trafficking, are now being supported by the NYPD's new Gender-Based Violence Police and Planning Unit, which provides an array of social services to the victims, including food, housing and counseling.
The 87 operations carried out during the World Cup have generated new leads, officials said, and law enforcement agencies are building more cases based on the investigations already underway.