FBI Arrests Over 200 Human Traffickers

The FBI announced it has arrested 239 human traffickers and rescued 82 minors as a result of its international Operation Cross Country X.

The FBI made many arrests within the United States, but also worked with law enforcement partners in several countries where underage human trafficking is known to be rampant, including Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Canada ran a coordinated effort called Northern Spotlight that recovered 16 children.

“Operation Cross Country aims to shine a spotlight into the darkest corners of our society that seeks to prey on the most vulnerable of our population,” said FBI Director James Comey in a press release. “As part of this effort, we are not only looking to root out those who engage in the trafficking of minors, but through our Office for Victim Assistance, we offer a lifeline to minors to help them escape from a virtual prison no person ever deserves.”

During one arrest in Kansas City, Kansas, five underage children were found to have been trafficked, according to the Kansas City Star.

In an arrest in the Philippines, authorities recovered two young boy, ages 5 and 11, as well as a girl who was only 2-years-old. Five adults were arrested for running a web-streaming service on which they broadcasted the abuse.

Law enforcement targeted places where child sex trafficking is known to occur, including hotels, trucks stops, and street corners. Any minors who were recovered during the arrest of a trafficker have been put in touch with governmental services and victim assistance.

“Child sex trafficking is a global problem and we must throw every resource we can at combating it,” said National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Director John Clark. “All of us at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are proud to work side by side with the FBI and their law enforcement partners as we work tirelessly every day to find and rescue child victims and while ensuring that those responsible for this horrible crime are held accountable.”

Sources: FBI, The Kansas City Star / Photo credit: FBI