Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: More than 100 children were recovered in an FBI-led, three-day undercover operation that targeted commercial child sex trafficking in 76 cities across the country.

Ronald T. Hosko: We also arrested 150 pimps who were prostituting both children and adult victims.

Halpern: I’m Mollie Halpern, and this is FBI, This Week. The FBI, its local law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children conducted Operation Cross Country VII. It’s the largest-ever law enforcement action focused on the recovery of children victimized through prostitution. Ron Hosko is the assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division.

Hosko: Child sex trafficking is both violent and unconscionable, and we want the subjects of these investigations to know that we are hunting them and push for their vigorous prosecution.

Halpern: John Ryan is the CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

John Ryan: Operation Cross Country is saving lives and bringing to justice those who violently manipulate these children and sell them for sex.

Halpern: For more information, visit www.fbi.gov