A new Southwest Florida Task Force was created to stop exploitation/trafficking and the Naples Police Department is proud to partner with this great team, consisting of multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across Southwest Florida and the State Attorney's Office - Twentieth Judicial Circuit. The INTERCEPT Task Force is a world-class, first-of-its-kind workspace providing all resources required to conduct investigations, plan and run operations, identify and rescue victims, educate parents and youth, process and analyze seized data, and serve its community.

Since the INTERCEPT partners began working together earlier this year they have arrested 25 individuals on charges relating to child exploitation, sex trafficking and prostitution. These investigations identified 37 victims, the youngest of whom was 2 years old.

The Southwest Florida INTERCEPT is the second in Florida sponsored by Operation Light Shine. The Northeast INTERCEPT Task Force was formed earlier this year.

Operation Light Shine is proudly supported by the Tim Tebow Foundation, which is part of the public-private partnership known as the Southwest Florida Inter-agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking (INTERCEPT) Task Force. Together, they are dedicated to combating trafficking and exploitation by offering financial, technical, and other resources.

Watch the press conference: https://fb.watch/ndqNGEwEy6/

Want to help? Visit the Operation Light Shine website: https://operationlightshine.org/intercept/