33 missing children have been recovered after an FBI led investigation in Southern California. Codenamed 'Operation Lost Angels' the investigation targeted a number of different individuals, including those that were believed to be exploiting children for sexual gratification or for financial gain.
Not all of the children were taken by one individual or group. It is however believed that 8 of the children were being trafficked for the purpose of sexual offences. One individual has been arrested for human-trafficking while other individuals have been charged with probation offences, non-custodial kidnapping, robbery and other misdemeanours as a result of the months long operation. Few other details have so far been released by authorities.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement:
"It is not uncommon for victims who are rescued to return to commercial sex trafficking either voluntarily or by force, fraud or coercion. This harmful cycle highlights the challenges victims face and those faced by law enforcement when attempting to keep victims from returning to an abusive situation. Victims may not self-identify as being trafficked or may not even realize they're being trafficked."
Assistant FBI Director Kristi K. Johnson added:
"The FBI considers human trafficking modern-day slavery, and the minors engaged in commercial sex trafficking are considered victims. While this operation surged resources over a limited period of time with great success, the FBI and our partners investigate child sex trafficking every day of the year and around the clock."
The FBI also said that across the country, there are still 1,800 investigations ongoing into missing and exploited youngsters.
This major operation comes on the back of several successful operations that have taken place within the last year targeting child exploiters within the United States. 'Operation Autumn Hope' that took place in Ohio resulted in the arrest of 179 suspected abusers and 109 children being rescued, while 'Operation Stolen Innocence' in Florida nabbed 170 suspected abusers.
Some experts have suggested that the closing of schools and the withdrawing of children from wider society has led to an increased danger from abusers and predators, due to the fact that others within the community, such as school teachers and other caregivers, can no longer identify children at risk, or children who are already being abused.
The vast majority of children who go missing in the United States are thankfully found within 24 hours of their disappearance, and the vast majority have come to no harm.
[h/t: The Mind Unleashed]
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