Thanks to a multi-agency investigation in the South of California, 33 missing children, 8 of whom were sexually abused, were saved, according to the FBI.
The FBI Los Angeles statement said that 2 of the children were saved several times during the Lost Angels operation.
These kids were on ‘the track’, a term that describes a location that’s known for sex trafficking. The rescuing of these children happened during the Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January.
What Kind of Operation Was Necessary to Rescue these Kids?
For the purposes of the rescue, the investigation used 24 agencies’ resources.
It began on the 11th of January. The statement explained that several other victims that were found were sexually abused in the past and were known as vulnerable missing kids previously.
However, the FBI didn’t give details about where they found the children and about the people who were arrested.
Still, they noted that one individual was accused of human trafficking and has been arrested on state charges.
Some minors were arrested during the investigation on the grounds of suspicion of probation violation, robbery, and several other misdemeanours.
It’s High Time to End Modern-Day Slavery
One of the kids was also a victim of non-custodial parental kidnapping.
The department chief of Los Angeles police Michael Moore said that human trafficking is an insidious and ongoing crime which is threatening the safety of young people, the future of our communities.
Moore also added that they can take back the future in their youth in our hands by creating strong partnerships between law enforcement and service providers.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff, Alex Villanueva, said that working together with the law enforcement partners is crucial to end the vicious cycle of modern-day slavery.
Villanueva emphasizes that they’re committed to doing everything in their power to put an end to human trafficking.
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