MIAMI, FL – A teenager, who had been missing for five years, was rescued from an alleged human trafficker in Miami-Dade County on Saturday. The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that their Human Trafficking Squad, in collaboration with detectives, successfully rescued the 17-year-old girl and apprehended the suspect, 27-year-old Christian Manuel Carvajal.
The police were led to the victim following a missing persons investigation that unveiled an online advertisement featuring the girl, who had been listed as a runaway since 2019. The detectives, posing as potential clients, arranged a $500 date with the victim to ensure her safety. Upon their arrival at the agreed location in Doral, Carvajal was seen driving a white Mercedes-Benz from which the girl emerged. He was promptly arrested and taken to the Miami-Dade Police Department headquarters.
At the headquarters, the victim revealed that she had met Carvajal on Instagram a week prior and had agreed to be transported by him to the meeting for $250. She also mentioned that he had set up two other dates for her, one of which would earn her $1,000, half of which would go to Carvajal for his services. The victim willingly showed the detectives her online conversations with Carvajal.
Carvajal, after being read his rights, admitted to meeting the victim on Instagram and arranging the transportation. Despite suspecting that the girl was underage, he made no attempts to confirm her age. He also failed to contact the victim’s parents or seek their permission for her to be in his custody. Further investigation revealed that he was not a legal guardian.
In addition to this, Carvajal offered the victim a device for smoking marijuana while they waited for the undercover detectives. He also confirmed his Instagram account, which matched the profile that the victim had been communicating with.
Human trafficking remains a significant issue, with Florida ranking third in the nation for such cases. Amanda Altman, CEO of Kristi House in Miami, urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.