Thirty-three children were found in an anti-trafficking operation in Los Angeles called “Operation Lost Angels,” the FBI field office in LA announced Friday.
The FBI worked with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and more than two dozen law enforcement agencies and nongovernmental partners to launch the recovery initiative on Jan. 11.
The FBI notes that eight of the 33 children recovered were sexually exploited when they were found, and many were considered vulnerable, missing children before recovery.
Two children had been tracked down multiple times during the study at known sex trafficking hotspots.
One of the minors found was unlawfully abducted by a parent. Some others were arrested for probation violations, theft or other crimes.
In addition, a suspected human trafficker was arrested on state charges.
“The FBI considers human trafficking to be modern day slavery and the minors involved in commercial sex trafficking are considered victims,” FBI assistant director Kristi K. Johnson said in a statement. the FBI and our partners investigate child sex trafficking every day of the year, around the clock. “
According to the FBI, trafficking cases have “increased significantly” in recent years. During fiscal year 2020, the FBI opened 664 human trafficking investigations that spanned the country. As a result, 473 human traffickers were arrested.
However, in November 2020, more than 1,800 investigations of human trafficking, including cases of child trafficking, were still ongoing.
The FBI urged anyone who believes they have witnessed human trafficking to call the local FBI office or the local police.