FBI Busts 67 Sex Traffickers, Recovers 103 Child Victims

[gsleuth]

''An FBI-led operation has culminated in the arrest of 67 suspected sex traffickers across the United States and the recovery of 103 child victims, authorities announced.

The initiative—dubbed Operation Independence Day—was a month-long operation that took place in July. In total, 161 operations were conducted nationwide as part of the initiative, which was a revamp of a previously successful program. More than 400 agencies participated. ''

FBI Busts 67 Sex Traffickers, Recovers 103 Child Victims

 

[gsleuth]

“This initiative has two crucial goals: rescuing children being sold for sex and prosecuting their adult traffickers,” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. “Child sex trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on the most vulnerable in our society.

“Perpetrators victimize children in communities throughout the country, and we are determined to find and rescue them,” he continued. “Through the FBI’s leadership, we have recovered thousands of child victims, and this latest operation adds to the success of that decades-long effort.”

FBI Busts 67 Sex Traffickers, Recovers 103 Child Victims

 

[gsleuth]

''In a similar statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray noted that the bureau is “fiercely focused” on reaching the two goals Barr had pointed out. He said their staff works tirelessly to make sure victims receive the help they need “to reclaim their lives.”

President Donald Trump, who has made combating human trafficking a focal point of his administration, signed into law the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act and Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, or SESTA-FOSTA in 2018. The legislation stops the shielding of website operators from state criminal charges or civil liability if they facilitate sex ads or prostitution.

Sex-trafficking website Backpage.com—the largest human-trafficking portal in the United States—was taken down by the FBI in 2018.''

FBI Busts 67 Sex Traffickers, Recovers 103 Child Victims

 

[gsleuth]

“We know this horrendous crime impacts communities across our country every day and we applaud the FBI for continuing to work tirelessly to locate these victims and hold accountable those who are selling children for sex,” said John Clark, president and CEO of NCMEC.

The FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit and the Department of Justice coordinated the operation.

FBI Busts 67 Sex Traffickers, Recovers 103 Child Victims

 

[gsleuth]

''Operation Independence Day, relied on more than 400 law enforcement agencies working on FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces in each of the Bureau’s 56 field offices. The sweep included undercover operations and has led to the opening of five dozen federal criminal investigations.''

Operation Independence Day — FBI

 

[StrangeOne]

The horror of all this is overwhelming. How these children are being procured? Not all of them are from abduction I'm sure. The only thing I am sure about is it has to stop .

 

[gsleuth]

The horror of all this is overwhelming. How these children are being procured? Not all of them are from abduction I'm sure. The only thing I am sure about is it has to stop .

Many evil people who are protected by people in power.


In some cases..probably many, the perpetrator is known by the victim.

''Grooming is the common practice among sex offenders of breaking down a child’s moral fiber, said Miller.

“They first rape the child’s mind in order to rape their body,” she said.

The predators told us that the first step is isolating the victim.''

Two child sex offenders explain how they picked their targets
Two child sex offenders explain how they picked their targets