Federal agents rescued 84 child sex trafficking victims and busted 120 traffickers during this year's Operation Cross Country XI, securing a major hit against a multi-state trafficking network during a four-day action that ended on October 15, according to FBI.Gov.
"Operation Cross Country XI" is an annual FBI coordinated effort that focuses on dismantling sex trafficking networks and rescuing young children and other victims from sex slavery.
While this is good news, FBI Director Christopher Wray says it was a single battle won in a much bigger war.
“We at the FBI have no greater mission than to protect our nation’s children from harm,” he said."Unfortunately, the number of traffickers arrested -- and the number of children recovered -- reinforces why we need to continue to do this important work."
A total of 55 FBI field offices and 78 FBI-led Child Exploitation Task Forces comprised of more than 500 law enforcement agencies were involved in this year's operation, which cooperated with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sting operations were conducted in hotels, casinos, truck stops, and even online through social media to catch pimps, prostitutes, and their customers.
Authorities were also able to cite and or arrest four pimps, 27 prostitutes, 12 male johns, and arrest and detain five men for solicitation of a minor -- all part of a larger and ongoing program called the Innocence Lost National Initiative, which is responsible for rescuing 6,500 exploited children since 2003.
For he recovered victims, the rescue operation marked the first step in a long road to recovery.
"This operation isn't just about taking traffickers off the street," Wray explained. "It's about making sure we offer help and a way out to these young victims who find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of abuse."
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