Jacksonville, FL — For the 11th year, the FBI has conducted a national enforcement action targeting underaged human trafficking.
120 traffickers were arrested as part of Operation Cross Country XI, and 84 minors were recovered. FBI Jacksonville now confirms to WOKV that one minor was recovered and one suspect was taken in to custody locally, with the help of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The nationwide crackdown took place October 12-15 in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, with the results released this week. 55 FBI field offices and 78 state and local task forces- consisting of hundreds of law enforcement partners- were involved, as well as some international partners, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. The FBI says OCC XI included officers staging operations in hotels, casinos, truck stops, street corners, and websites.
The youngest victim that was recovered in the enforcement action was three-months-old. The average age of the victims was 15-years-old. The FBI says victims are offered medical and mental health counseling, as well as other services.