8 Caught In Massive Prostitution Raid Linked To World Cup, NJ Sheriff Says

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Eight people were recently arrested following a county-wide prostitution sting in Passaic County, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Thursday, the Passaic County Sheriff’s office took part in a multi-agency quality-of-life operation targeting illegal prostitution activity at hotels and massage parlors in several towns around the county.

Officials said the sweeps led to eight women being arrested for varying crimes, all connected to “illegal activity linked to human trafficking and exploitation.”

“Human trafficking and prostitution-related crimes have no place in our communities. We will continue to aggressively investigate these activities and hold those responsible accountable,” said Sheriff Thomas Adamo in a sheriff’s office social media post.

The Passaic County Sheriff's Office said that the sweep was connected to the uptick in regional travel associated with the FIFA World Cup. The undercover stings were executed in conjunction with Woodland Park, Passaic, Ringwood, Clifton, and Haledon police departments, authorities added.

Authorities also seized $13,204 in what is believed to be proceeds of prostitution-related activity, police said.

Daniela Alcántara-Díaz, Yunn Haiping, Milanyela Contretas-Torres, Beatriz Hourdequint-Rodriguez, Regiane Paniago-Carvalho, Maria Pena, Jennifer Garcia, and Talita Borges-Dasilva were all arrested and face charges associated with prostitution.

A New York Post article from May reported that sex workers have been seeing a high increase in bookings as more than one million tourists make their way to the New Jersey/New York area for the World Cup matches.

Passaic County residents can expect “increased law enforcement presence, enhanced security measures, and officers actively engaging throughout our communities” as the World Cup unfolds for the next few weeks.