White Plains Girl, 16, Rescued from Sex Traffickers By FBI

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A 16-year-old White Plains girl was rescued from sex traffickers by the FBI during an annual initiative to liberate victims of sex trafficking around the world.

Along with the White Plains girl, another from New York City was rescued, News 12 reported, adding one of the girls had been trafficked since the age of 13.

The three-day Operation Cross Country ended Oct. 16, the FBI said on its website, and took place across the United States and, for the first time, in other countries around the world.

In the U.S., 82 minors were rescued, and 239 traffickers and their associates were arrested.

In Canada, authorities recovered 16 children, while in Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines, 25 children, including a 2-year-old girl, were recovered.

FBI Director James Comey said Operation Cross Country shined a light on the darkest corners of society.

“As part of this effort, we are not only looking to root out those who engage in the trafficking of minors, but through our Office for Victim Assistance, we offer a lifeline to minors to help them escape from a virtual prison no person ever deserves,” he said.

Operations took place in hotels, truck stops and street corners, the bureau said.

A 61-year-old New York City woman was arrested Thursday as part of the operation at a Nanuet Hotel, Clarkstown police said.

Other local police departments that assisted included Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, Yonkers, Westchester County and Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.

For more details, go to News 12 and the Journal News.

Photo credit: YouTube