Sex-Trafficking Crackdown Leads To MD, Nationwide Rescues

BALTIMORE, MD — Eighty-five suspects face charges for human trafficking and child sexual exploitation — some of which took place in Maryland — the FBI said Monday. Law enforcement rescued 225 victims around the nation, including 84 children, during "Operation Cross Country," according to authorities.

In the Baltimore area, FBI agents from the Baltimore Division worked with law enforcement partners from the Maryland Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force and the Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force. Authorities identified or located 11 adult trafficking victims during operations that ran from Aug. 4-7, as well as Aug. 11-14, according to an FBI news release.

The nationwide crackdown focused on finding victims of sex trafficking and arresting people and criminal enterprises involved, the FBI said. Federal authorities, their state and local partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children conducted 391 operations in the first two weeks of August.

In addition to the identification and location of adolescent victims, the FBI and its partners located 141 adult victims of human trafficking, including those found in Maryland.

“The FBI has zero tolerance on human trafficking and all traffickers will be aggressively pursued and held accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, in a news release. “FBI Baltimore would like to thank our partners at the Maryland Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force and the Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force for their assistance, not only with this operation, but their ongoing efforts to partner with FBI Baltimore on this terrible crime.”

Agents and investigators also identified or arrested 85 suspects with child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses. The average age of victims located during this year’s Operation Cross Country was 15.5, while the youngest victim discovered was 11 years old.

“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.”

More than 200 state, local, and federal partners and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children conducted 391 operations over the two-week period.