COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. () – From Thursday, November 20th through Sunday, November 23rd, law enforcement officials in Grovetown, Georgia, in collaboration with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, executed “Operation Fowl Play,” a strategic initiative targeting child predators in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

Throughout the operation, undercover officers interacted with over 1,000 online users. Out of these, 208 confirmed adults expressed intentions to engage in sexual activities.

Despite being repeatedly informed that they were chatting with a “child,” 68 individuals expressed a willingness to meet for sexual encounters, with several offering monetary compensation.

Among these 68, about 25 showed readiness to travel to predetermined meeting spots set up by investigators.

Nine of these individuals proceeded to these locations, only to be apprehended by officers from the Grovetown Police Department and other assisting agencies. Alarmingly, seven of them were found carrying firearms.

Additional specific details on the suspects will not be released until the investigation is complete.

All are charged with Computer Pornography and other crimes. They remain in the Columbia County Jail.