A sex slave operation in Orange and Osceola counties was busted using more than 25 women.

The two-year investigation, dubbed "Operation Pop-a-Smurf," was exposed Monday, and investigators said it's not over yet.

So far, at least 21 people have been arrested, but investigators said they were still searching for eight potentially dangerous and violent suspects.

Operation Pop-a-Smurf targeted Keith "Smurf" Hamlet, the suspected ringleader for a major human trafficking and drug-dealing organization. He, along with 20 others as of Monday, were put behind bars, but agents said one of Hamlet's partners in crime, Edward "Man-Man" Redmond, remains on the loose.

"He has six felony convictions," Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said. "Guns were confiscated in this operation. Drugs were confiscated. He's dangerous. Please be on the lookout."


Some of the suspects identified in "Operation Pop-a-Smurf," including Casey King (bottom row, left), who was shot and killed last week.

Our cameras were rolling last week as agents with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations and Drug Enforcement Agency entered one of the seven suspected homes involved in the trafficking ring.

Officials said the evidence clearly showed the organization used violence, drugs and sex slavery to make their money.

More than 25 women and a minor were being used for prostitution, with their services advertised on the website backpage.com.

Now, at least eight of those females who were facing charges, including the minor, have had those charges dropped, since they have come forward as victims of human trafficking.

"They're strung out on heroin, cocaine, pharmaceuticals," said Mike Gibson, vice commander of the MBI's Human Trafficking division. "They've had a lot of violence inflicted on them, and they're afraid."

Now, investigators said they won't know if she was actually a victim.

Agents said they were still working to find out who shot and killed King, adding they expected to have more answers soon.

For now, those victims of human trafficking were said to be receiving counseling and assisting with the ongoing investigation.

"Despicable, unacceptable," Bondi said Monday. "We're not going to let this continue in our state."

"Zero is our favorite number, because we will make Florida a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking," Bondi added.

For one woman, Casey King, the arrests come too late. Originally listed as a suspect, the 28-year-old was gunned down last week outside a Parramore home tied to this investigation.

Monday evening, the Orange County Sheriff's Office issued this release, showing eight suspects still at large: