PHOENIX, AZ—The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, working alongside federal and local partners in Phoenix identified and located five (5) minor victims of sex trafficking here as part of a nationwide enforcement campaign, called “Operation Cross Country.” Additionally, as part of the operation, thirty-one (31) subjects were arrested for attempting to have sexual contact with minors, and one (1) alleged trafficker was taken into custody.

The FBI-led nationwide initiative, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex and human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies conducted targeted operations to identify and apprehend offenders, dismantle criminal networks, and prevent further harm to victims. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges.

In the Valley, the FBI’s Greater Phoenix Area Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (GPACEHTTF), which is comprised of officers from Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, and Tempe police departments, along with assistance from Scottsdale and Surprise police and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the operation.

While Operation Cross Country is an annual national initiative, the GPACEHTTF works with the Phoenix Police Department’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit on a regular basis throughout the year to combat this issue. With its leadership, the Phoenix Police HEAT Unit and the GPACEHTTF routinely collaborate with human trafficking units from law enforcement agencies across the greater Phoenix area on human trafficking operations.

The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to combating child exploitation and human trafficking. Operation Cross Country is just one facet of the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society and hold offenders accountable. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

Resources:

• Victim Services Division
• Crimes Against Children
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
• NCMEC’s 24/7 call center number: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678)

Editor’s note: b-roll from Operation Cross Country XII operations can be found/downloaded here: Operation Cross Country 2022 B-Roll — FBI