By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know an eleven-month-old baby was rescued from human trafficking in Brazil following an undercover investigation initiated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)?
This past Fall, 2025, authorities arranged for the baby to be transported to Tampa and the suspect, Huilzivan Alves da Costa, a 29-year-old from Mato Grosso, Brazil, was identified after posting online that he was offering the infant for sexual purposes.
However, Alves da Costa backed out of the planned meeting in March 2026. Working with the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and the Brazilian Federal Police, investigators located the suspect, leading to a raid on May 9, 2026, where the infant was rescued and Alves da Costa was killed during the confrontation. The investigation remains active, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling the prosecution.
Florida remains ranked 3rd in the United States for the total number of reported human trafficking cases in 2026, following California and Texas. According to 2024 data published in 2026, Florida had 832 identified cases involving nearly 2,000 victims while also ranking second nationally for labor trafficking specifically.
The state’s high prevalence is attributed to its massive tourism industry, year-round population growth, and major transportation hubs, particularly in Central Florida and Tampa. Recent reports estimate that nearly three-quarters of a million people in Florida have been victims of trafficking, with a significant portion involving minors in sex trafficking operations.