INDIANAPOLIS — A major law enforcement operation to locate and assist victims of human trafficking and related crimes resulted in the location of more than 200 victims during the first two weeks of August.
In Indiana, nine victims and three sex offenders were located in a joint effort between the FBI, U.S. Marshals and IMPD missing persons.
The operation, known as Operation Cross Country is a coordinated operation among the FBI, other federal agencies, state agencies, local police and social services agencies across the country to find and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims.
According to FBI Indianapolis, the victims and sex offenders were located and/or identified on Aug. 12.
“The initiative really just takes a concentrated period of time where we’re just focused on the problem of child sex trafficking,” Section Chief Jose Perez, who oversees violent crime investigations in the FBI said. “What we do is we sit down with our local partners and our task forces and identify certain areas where we know sex trafficking is prevalent, and we’ll dedicate resources and efforts to identify and remove victims from those areas.”
In total, the FBI was able to locate 37 missing children and 141 adults during the nationwide operation.
-
2 shot, injured in shooting on Indy’s north side
Two people were injured in a shooting in the 2000 block of W. 65th St. on the north side of Indianapolis Saturday night.Person shot, killed on Indy’s near west side
One person was killed in a shooting in the 3800 block of West Michigan Street on the near west side of Indianapolis Saturday evening.Delphi Murders Trial: Day 20 | Jury to determine if Richard Allen is guilty
The jury has deliberated on the Richard Allen case for fourteen hours -- without reaching a verdict. Jurors continue their work in Delphi Monday.Non-profit hosts Thanksgiving dinner for Indy youth facing homelessness
Thanksgiving is a little less than three weeks away, but an Indy non-profit that supports young people experiencing homelessness spent the night celebrating what they’re grateful for.