KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) announced Wednesday that 84 minors were recovered and 120 traffickers were arrested as part of Operation Cross Country XI, a nationwide effort focused on underage human trafficking that ran from October 12 to 15.
During that time, the FBI Kansas City Division, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, conducted the operation in 10 cities in Kansas and Missouri, according to a news release. Their portion of the operation led to the recovery of three minors, ranging in age of 16 to 17 years old, and the arrests of 10 traffickers.
A spokeswoman with the FBI Kansas City Division said two minors and four traffickers were from the Kansas City area.
According to the news release, FBI agents and task force officers staged operations in hotels, casinos, and truck stops, as well as street corners and online. The youngest victim recovered in this year’s operation was 3 months old. The average age of victims recovered during the operation was 15 years old.
Minors recovered during the operation are offered assistance from state protective services and the FBI’s Victim Services Division, according to the news release. Depending on the level of need, victims are offered medical and mental health counseling, as well as other services.
For more information on Operation Cross Country XI and the Innocence Lost Initiative visit www.fbi.gov
