Several people faced human trafficking charges after Miami Beach police raided apartments in connection to a narcotics investigation. NBC 6’s Jamie Guirola reports
What started out as a weekslong narcotics investigation led Miami Beach police to a victim of human trafficking and a criminal enterprise with drugs, weapons and sex.
At least seven people were arrested after an overnight police raid in Miami Beach. Over the past few weeks, the Miami Beach Police Department launched an investigation into two apartments in the 700 block of Jefferson Avenue.
The narcotics investigations involved the sale of crack cocaine and crystal meth. During the raid, police also found several firearms, one of which was reported stolen.
During the course of the investigation, police identified a victim who says she was pimped out for money but fed cocaine instead. The victim told police failure to do what she was told meant getting a beatdown.
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The suspects appeared in court Friday on serious charges, with five of them facing human trafficking-related charges. They were also charged with several narcotics-related charges.
Police said most of the people arrested had violent criminal backgrounds and connections to gangs.
Victims of human trafficking, or anybody who has information about victims, can call a 24-hour Miami-based hotline 305-FIX-STOP.
