Multiple teen victims were rescued from sex trafficking in Georgia after an FBI-led sting focused on the illegal industry. Over the last two weeks, multiple agencies led by the FBI, participated in “Operation Cross Country,” which took place across the country and was specifically focused on child sex trafficking.
The FBI’s Atlanta operation located 19 missing children and resulted in the arrest of four traffickers. A total of 28 teen victims were rescued as a result. According to the FBI, in Georgia, nine of the victims were children who were being commercially sexually exploited. Victims’ ages in Georgia ranged from 14 to 17.
A total of 37 missing children were found nationwide. Thanks to the operation, across the country 84 minor victims were also rescued as a result. 85 suspects were identified or arrested and charged with child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
The Operation took place from Aug. 4-Aug. 14. The effort aims to gather intelligence, build criminal cases against traffickers, and offer victims assistance.
“As far as our priorities, there’s really no greater calling in law enforcement for the FBI than to protect the children in our society,” says Chief Jose Perez. “Online exploitation of children, which is significant, and then commercial sex trafficking initiatives like this really just highlight the problem and highlight our efforts and our partnerships in our communities. Bringing light to it is really something for public awareness, and [helps] to bring some information forward from the public, which is something we always seek to do.”
Children weren’t the only ones rescued in the Operation. There were adults who were also victims. Adult victims rescued across the country totaled 141. This year’s average age of victims located during the operation was about 15. The youngest victim rescued was only 11 years old.
In a release from the FBI, they say that it took a lot of help to make such a large number of rescues happen. “The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces across the country worked to locate victims. About 200 federal, state, and local agencies partnered with the FBI on Operation Cross Country. They encountered both child victims of sex trafficking and adults who were being trafficked against their will.”
Specific details, such as the names of those arrested or the locations where they were found, have not been released. However, according to the Human Trafficking Institution, 55% of sex trafficking victims have been recruited online through social media platforms, online chat rooms, messaging or dating apps.
