19 Arrested in Multi-Agency Human Trafficking Sting in Columbus

Staff Report

A four-day undercover operation targeting online sexual predators resulted in the arrest of 19 individuals in Columbus, said authorities.

Dubbed “Operation Lights Out,” the human trafficking sting was a joint effort led by the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The arrests, made between Apr. 25 and Apr. 27, involved suspects ranging in age from 21 to 68.

According to investigators, the operation focused on individuals who used the internet and social media to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors, arrange sexual encounters with minors, and travel for the purpose of having sex with children.

“These arrests reflect our commitment to stopping those who seek to exploit and harm children,” the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Online predators are actively using social media and digital platforms to target minors, and operations like this are essential to protecting our communities.”

The coordinated effort included 12 law enforcement agencies working together to identify and apprehend suspects.

No further details were immediately released regarding the identities of those arrested or pending charges. Authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing.

For more information, contact the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.