What is Operation Lost Angels? 8 sexually abused kids among 33 children rescued in LA anti-trafficking op
More than 30 missing children, eight of whom had been sexually exploited, have been recovered as part 'Operation Lost Angels', according to the FBI.
'Operation Lost Angels' initiative was a part of a joint effort by the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and more than two dozen local law enforcement agencies. It started on January 11 amid Human Trafficking Awareness Month and involved more than two dozen agencies in an effort to identify and find missing children.
“The FBI considers human trafficking modern-day slavery and the minors engaged in commercial sex trafficking are considered victims,” said FBI Assistant Director Johnson. “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.” Two of the children were recovered multiple times while on the “track", a common term used to describe locations for commercial sex trafficking, the FBI shared in a release.
Several of the other victims found had been sexually exploited in the past and had been considered vulnerable missing children, before they were found. At least one suspected human trafficker was detained as a result of the operation and some of the minor victims were also arrested for violating probation, robbery and other misdemeanors. One child was a victim of a noncustodial parental kidnapping.
The FBI has seen an increase in sex and labor trafficking-related crimes, compared to the last several years. As of November 2020, there have been at least 1,800 pending trafficking investigations, including those that involved minors exploited through commercial sex trafficking. There are currently 86 Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces run by the FBI across the country.
In 2020, 664 human trafficking investigations initiated by the FBI resulted in the arrest of 473 traffickers. “Human trafficking is a pervasive and insidious crime that threatens the safety of our young people, who are the future of our communities,” said Michel Moore, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. “We can only begin to take back the future of our youth with the strong partnerships forged between outstanding service providers and law enforcement.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said, “Collaboration with our law enforcement partners is key to ending the vicious cycle of modern day slavery. I’m committed to doing everything we can to stop human trafficking.”