WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) — Federal agents arrested more than 150 people an saved nearly as many children in a nationwide sex trafficking sting, authorities announced this week.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the sting results it said stemmed from Operation Cross Country — a large-scale effort that sought to combat underage prostitution last week.
“Our mission is to protect the American people — especially our children — from harm,” FBI Director James Comey said in a statement. “When kids are treated as a commodity in seedy hotels and on dark roadsides, we must rescue them from their nightmare and severely punish those responsible for that horror.”
The FBI worked with local, state and federal authorities in the stings, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
“Human trafficking is a monstrous and devastating crime that steals lives and degrades our nation,” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said. “As a result of the FBI’s outstanding coordination and exemplary efforts alongside state and local partners during Operation Cross Country, more children will sleep safely tonight, and more wrongdoers will face the judgment of our criminal justice system.”
The nationwide trafficking sting is performed every year by the bureau, officials said, but this year’s was the largest effort to date. The effort is part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost National Initiative.
“We simply must continue to work with our partners to end the scourge of sex trafficking in our country,” Comey said.
More than 500 law enforcement officials in 135 cities participated in the operation — which focused on places frequented by prostitutes, such as hotels and truck stops.
The FBI said 149 children were rescued in the sting — the youngest of whom were just 12 years old.
“The number of children recovered and pimps arrested in this year’s operation highlights the importance of these efforts today and every day in protecting our children,” Linda Krieg, the NCMEC’s acting chief executive officer, said.
The operation targeted prostitution rings in some of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas — including Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas.
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