WASHINGTON, D.C./SAN FRANCISCO—The FBI San Francisco Field Office, working with its state and local partners, identified and located 21 victims of sex trafficking during a nationwide enforcement campaign called “Operation Cross Country.”

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, dismantling criminal networks and preventing further harm to victims. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges.

Locally, FBI agents from the San Francisco Division worked with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and conducted 17 operations across the Bay Area during this two-week operation in July. Three adolescent victims were recovered, and an additional adolescent victim was identified during the operation. Investigative teams also located 17 adult victims, arrested nine suspects, and recovered three firearms. The FBI’s Victim Specialists were on hand for the operations conducted and offered services to the recovered victims.

The following laws enforcement agencies participated in the Bay Area’s operation: San Jose Police Department, Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC), Department of State, Milpitas Police Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Santa Clara City Special Enforcement Team (SCCSET), Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Oakland Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, Contra Costa County Probation Department, Hercules Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Concord Police Department, Danville Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, Richmond Police Department, Northern District of California U.S. Probation Office, San Rafael Police Department, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Central Marin Police Department, Novato Police Department, Redwood City Police Department, Menlo Park Police Department, and Morgan Hill Police Department

Victim assistance was provided by the following agencies: Community Solutions, YWCA, AACI, Victim Witness Assistance—Contra Costa Co DA, International Rescue Committee, Victim Witness Assistance—SFDA, Victim Witness Assistance—Alameda DA, San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program, and FBI Victim Services Division

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