A two-week sweep to combat child exploitation culminated with FBI officials locating 200 sex trafficking victims, 59 of whom were missing children. What's more, the FBI in conjunction with state and local agencies have identified and/or arrested 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking and 68 suspected traffickers.
“Sex traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. “This operation, which located 59 actively missing children, builds on the tremendous work the FBI has undertaken over many years to rescue minor victims and arrest those responsible for these unspeakable crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors."
"Human traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, and their crimes scar victims — many of them children — for life. The FBI's commitment to combatting this threat will never waver, and we will continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.
