TAMPA, FL — An 11-month-old infant has been rescued from a dangerous international child exploitation and human trafficking operation following a months-long collaborative investigation involving the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Brazilian Federal Police.
The targeted law enforcement operation in South America resulted in the death of the suspect, Huilzivan Alves da Costa, 29, of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
The Undercover Operation
The investigation began in October 2025 when FDLE agents launched an undercover operation aimed at identifying individuals producing and selling child sexual abuse material (CSAM). During the operation, agents flagged a post on a social networking platform that openly offered an infant for sexual purposes.
Undercover agents established communication with the account holder, later identified as Alves da Costa, and negotiated an arrangement to transport the baby from Brazil to Tampa, Florida. While a meeting was coordinated, the suspect backed out of the travel plans on March 25, 2026.
International Rescue
Refusing to let the case go cold, FDLE agents and HSI federal partners intensified their efforts to pinpoint the child’s location and confirm Alves da Costa’s exact coordinates. HSI formally engaged the Brazilian Federal Police, who successfully tracked the suspect down in Brazil.
On May 12, 2026, Florida authorities were notified that Brazilian law enforcement had executed a high-stakes search and rescue operation on May 9. The 11-month-old victim was safely rescued from the residence. Alves da Costa was killed during the tactical operation.
Legal Jurisdictions
Prior to the suspect’s death, Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution was prepared to handle the state-level prosecution of the case in Florida.
While the primary suspect is deceased, authorities state that the international investigation remains active as they review networks and digital footprints associated with the operation.