Four men are behind bars in Miami-Dade County after an undercover operation that authorities say targeted people trying to buy sex with minors in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup. Police say the suspects were arrested when they showed up at prearranged meetups and were booked on trafficking and computer-crime charges, the latest in a string of stings as the city gears up for World Cup events.
Melvin Phillip Putney, 47; Henry Eduardo Castillo Martinez, 20; John Alcin, 30; and Ibrahim Vazquez Cobas, 54, were arrested and charged with human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual activity, traveling to meet a minor and prohibited computer use, according to WSVN. Investigators said undercover detectives posted online ads, traded messages with the men, negotiated prices of about $150 to $200 and made it clear the buyers believed they were arranging encounters with 14- and 15-year-olds. When the suspects arrived, tactical units moved in and arrested them. All four are being held without bond, and Martinez and Alcin are also being held on Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers, the outlet reported.
Undercover methods mirror earlier operations
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has used similar tactics in previous sweeps, relying on online posts and text and phone communication to lock in meetings before moving in for arrests. In an April operation that ended with 15 people charged, dubbed Operation Wrong Turn, prosecutors touted the approach as part of a broader crackdown. “Operation Wrong Turn is an example of the success in our fight against the modern-day slavery of Human Trafficking,” the office said in a release, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. That document notes detectives explicitly told suspects the advertised individuals were underage before arranging face-to-face meetings.
Part of a wider World Cup push
Miami-Dade authorities and neighboring agencies have been ramping up operations ahead of World Cup matches, including a June sting in Homestead that led to a dozen arrests, according to Local10. Federal and financial regulators have repeatedly warned that large-scale events can fuel demand for illicit services. In May, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network put out a notice urging extra vigilance for trafficking-related activity tied to the 2026 World Cup. FinCEN told banks and other financial institutions to be on alert for red flags as the tournament approaches.
Charges, custody and next steps
The four men now face state felony counts that carry steep penalties if prosecutors win convictions, and they remain jailed while authorities prepare formal charges and possible indictments, WSVN reported. ICE detainers for Martinez and Alcin mean federal immigration officials could take custody and begin removal proceedings once the local criminal cases are resolved. Prosecutors typically coordinate these kinds of multi-agency stings with federal partners before walking them into court.
Officials are urging anyone who suspects human trafficking to contact the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Human Trafficking Hotline at 305-349-7867, according to the office’s press materials. Local advocates say the stings are meant to keep minors out of harm’s way during major events and are asking the public to speak up if they see something that does not look right.
