In a nationwide enforcement campaign last month, the Cross Country Operation, led by the FBI, resulted in the rescue of over 200 victims of sex trafficking.
This sweeping initiative also led to the identification or arrest of over five dozen suspected human traffickers and 126 individuals involved in child sexual exploitation and trafficking offenses.
Cross-Country Operation: A Crusade Against Child Sex Trafficking
Under the banner of the FBI-led Cross-Country Operation, which includes nearly all FBI field offices and their state and local partners, the operation achieved significant breakthroughs.
These include the location and rescue of 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, along with the identification of another 59 children who were previously reported missing.
The initiative, now in its 13th year, is a concerted effort among the FBI, other federal agencies, state and local law enforcement, and social service agencies to identify and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims.
According to NBC News, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that sex traffickers take advantage of and put at risk some of the most vulnerable members of our society, inflicting unimaginable harm on their victims.
The recent operation, which successfully located 59 missing children, is an extension of the FBI's long-standing efforts to rescue minors and apprehend those responsible for these reprehensible acts.
Federal authorities revealed that the FBI-led initiative, conducted in collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), had a primary focus on identifying and finding victims of sex trafficking.
The operation also aimed to investigate and apprehend individuals and criminal organizations involved in both child sex trafficking and human trafficking.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a private non-profit organization, remains a major partner in this initiative, contributing significantly to over 400,000 cases of recovered missing children since 1984.
According to the FBI, Director Christopher Wray underscored the importance of the operation during an announcement on August 1, stating, "Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights that preys on the most vulnerable members of our society. The FBI's actions against this threat never waver as we continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated."
On-the-Ground Efforts and Victim Support
Throughout the year, FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces across the country work relentlessly to locate victims and their traffickers.
Victim specialists, often embedded within these operations, act as a liaison between the victims and FBI agents, aiding victims in finding services to help rebuild their lives.
Regina Thompson, the assistant director of the Victim Services Division, highlights the collaborative efforts of victim specialists, victim service coordinators, child and adolescent forensic interviewers, and other victim service professionals in working together with special agents.
Their aim is to adopt a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach when interacting with victims.
This approach holds particular significance when dealing with victims of human trafficking, given the complexity and profound trauma associated with this crime.
Daily Vigilance and Unwavering Dedication
Operation Cross Country, originally an FBI initiative started in 2003, focuses on identifying and recovering minors who have been sexually exploited.
While these national operations bring attention to the pervasive issue of trafficking, the FBI and its partners continuously work to investigate and halt trafficking on a daily basis.
According to FOX10, Michelle DeLaune, the President and CEO of NCMEC, stressed the significance of recognizing the human stories that lie beyond mere statistics.
She emphasized that each statistic represents a person with hopes, dreams, and the fundamental right to live a life devoid of child sex trafficking and exploitation.
DeLaune expressed admiration for the FBI and their collaborating law enforcement agencies, acknowledging their steadfast commitment to safeguarding children.
