Federal Bureau of Investigation - Little Rock Field Office

08/15/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/15/2022 13:23

FBI Fayetteville Partners with Arkansas Law Enforcement Agencies to Combat Human Trafficking During Operation Cross Country XII

LITTLE ROCK, AR- During an enforcement campaign conducted over the past two weeks, the FBI and its law enforcement partners identified and located 84 minor victims and rescued 37 actively missing children. This is the 13th iteration of the FBI-led nationwide operation, dubbed "Operation Cross Country," focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking. The campaign also develops state and federal cases against individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex trafficking and human trafficking.

In addition to the identification and location of adolescent victims, the FBI and its partners located 141 adult victims of human trafficking across the nation. Special agents and investigators also identified or arrested 85 suspects with child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges. The average age of victims located in similar operations is approximately 16 years old, while the youngest victim discovered during this operation was 11 years old.

In Arkansas, FBI agents from the Fayetteville Resident Agency partnered with northwest Arkansas victim advocacy organizations and law enforcement from Baxter County Sheriff's Office, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Bentonville Police Department, Greenland School District Police Department, Lakeview Police Department, Rogers Police Department, Siloam Springs Police Department, and the University of Arkansas Police Department. Beginning on August 4th, this team identified and located two human trafficking victims, arrested one alleged human trafficker, and apprehended three individuals who allegedly traveled or intended to travel to northwest Arkansas from other states and cities in separate attempts to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors.

"Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes the FBI encounters," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Unfortunately, such crimes-against both adults and children-are far more common than most people realize. As we did in this operation, the FBI and our partners will continue to find and arrest traffickers, identify and help victims, and raise awareness of the exploitation of our most vulnerable populations."

As part of Operation Cross Country XII, FBI special agents, intelligence analysts, victim specialists, and child adolescent forensic interviewers- working in conjunction with over 200 local, state, and federal partners and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)- conducted 391 operations over a two-week period.

"The success of Operation Cross Country in Arkansas this year is a direct result of the enduring partnerships we share with local and state law enforcement," said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson. "Without our partners, four alleged predators may have avoided justice and two human trafficking victims may not have received the assistance they desperately needed. We will continue to work with Arkansas police agencies to combat human trafficking and child exploitation throughout our state."