The FBI released the below information:
The FBI,
working with its state and local partners during two weeks in August,
identified and located 84 minor victims of child sex trafficking and child
sexual exploitation offenses and located 37 actively missing children during a
nationwide enforcement campaign, dubbed “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI-led
nationwide initiative focused on identifying and locating victims of sex
trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal
enterprises involved in both child sex trafficking and human trafficking.
In addition to the identification and location of adolescent victims, the FBI
and its partners located 141 adult victims of human trafficking. Agents and
investigators also identified or arrested 85 suspects with child sexual
exploitation and human trafficking offenses. Those suspects identified will be
subject to additional investigation for potential charges. The average age of
victims located during this year’s Operation Cross Country was 15.5, while
the youngest victim discovered was 11 years old.
“The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our
power to combat the insidious crimes of human trafficking that devastate
survivors and their families,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am
grateful to the dedicated professionals of the FBI and our law enforcement
partners across the country for their tireless work to rescue trafficking
survivors, including exploited children, to investigate and prosecute the
perpetrators of trafficking crimes, and to provide the services and support
that survivors need and deserve.”
"Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes the FBI encounters,”
said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Unfortunately, such crimes—against both
adults and children—are far more common than most people realize. As we did in
this operation, the FBI and our partners will continue to find and arrest
traffickers, identify and help victims, and raise awareness of the exploitation
of our most vulnerable populations.”
As part of Operation Cross Country XII, FBI special agents, intelligence
analysts, victim specialists, and child adolescent forensic Interviewers
working in conjunction with over 200 state, local, and federal partners and the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) conducted 391
operations over the two-week period.
“The success of Operation Cross County reinforces what NCMEC sees every day.
Children are being bought and sold for sex in communities across the country by
traffickers, gangs, and even family members,” said Michelle DeLaune,
President and CEO National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children “We’re proud to support the FBI’s efforts to prioritize the
safety of children. This national operation highlights the need for all child
serving professionals to continue to focus on the wellbeing of children and
youth to prevent them from being targeted in the first place.”
Victim specialists provide a “bridge” for victims who are wary of the system, help the victim establish positive relationships with law enforcement, and ensure the human trafficking victim population receives any appropriate resources available to them. Victim specialists also provide services based on the individual needs of human trafficking victims, to include crisis intervention, emergency food and clothing, transportation to receive emergency services, and locating shelter or housing. The task forces in the recent operation included federal, state, local and tribal partners, with efforts in every state and even a few U.S. territories.
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