Super Bowl LV has finally arrived! It is an exciting time and Florida is honored to host the National Football League’s championship game for the second straight year. Thousands of fans are here in our state to watch and participate in the festivities surrounding this global event. While visitors will create a boon for our economy, we know criminals will try to exploit the occasion to make a dishonest dollar.

With kickoff scheduled for Sunday night, we have been hard at work preparing for a potential increase in human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. This week, I gathered business, community and law enforcement leaders who have joined our efforts to stop human trafficking ahead of the big game. Just like the Bucs, we are heading into the week with homefield advantage, and we’re familiar with our opponents.

One of the best defenses we have in our fight against human trafficking is bringing awareness to the public. Our team has been working overtime to deliver resources and educational material leading up to the Super Bowl. Over the past few weeks, we have equipped thousands of Floridians to help us spot and report human trafficking; but training camp is over, and it is game time.

To learn more about the efforts we have made to eliminate human trafficking in Florida ahead of this year’s Super Bowl, click here.

Learn how to spot and report the signs of human trafficking by visiting YouCanStopHT.com.

The Super Bowl should be celebrated and enjoyed safely, and, for the most part, that is the goal for those eagerly awaiting the big game. For those with less than good intentions, we have a legion of well-trained citizens on the lookout to stop you from exploiting this great event. If you attempt to engage in illegal activity this weekend, you may end up in jail.

By working together to stop human trafficking and rescue victims, we will build a Stronger, Safer Florida.