Trafficking operation saves more than 30 children, 120 more return home after Texas bust

The combined efforts of local and federal authorities saved over 30 children and busted several trafficking operations across Texas.

The San Antonio-centered operation was dubbed “Operation Lightning Bug” and saw teams of authorities from the US Marshals Service join up with the San Antonio Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit, Special Victims Unit, and Street Crimes Unit. They were able to utilize state and federal crime databases to coordinate rescue efforts for at-risk juveniles across the state, and the results speak for themselves.

Three arrests were made on those “harboring runaways,” and nine felony warrants were executed. Over 30 missing juveniles were located, and more than 120 additional missing kids voluntarily returned to their homes. Additionally, six sex trafficking victims were rescued and connected to resources, and five new trafficking investigations were opened. All of the juveniles rescued were interviewed, and those who had been victimized were set up with services to help in long-term healing and protection.

“The safety of our children is the safety of our communities, and justice demands that we protect those who cannot protect themselves,” said US Marshal Susan Pamerleau in a statement regarding the operation. “Through Operation Lightning Bug, we reaffirm our promise to safeguard the most vulnerable and strengthen the safety of our communities.”

“Every suspect arrested, juvenile returned home, and survivor taken out of harm’s way matters,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus added. “This operation demonstrates what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies unite to protect children.”

Founder and CEO of the Institute to Combat Trafficking, Kirsta Leeberg-Melton, told Fox News Digital that the issue is something the state has struggled with for some time.

“Trafficking is something that the city of San Antonio and the state of Texas and the nation have been grappling with for a considerable period of time,” she explained, noting that traffickers often choose their victims based on levels of instability in their lives, such as lack of proper housing, support, and food.

“They are easy pickings for traffickers to take advantage of. They exploit these needs by offering those items and then calling in debts and putting those kids in a position where they are able to exploit them for sex or for labor.”

Leeberg-Melton also warned that most Americans underestimate the scope of the problem that trafficking poses.

“Trafficking is the exploitation of men, women, and children for forced sex or forced labor by a third party for their profit or gain. That’s been around forever. What hasn’t really been around is people’s understanding of that crime and their knowledge that it’s happening everywhere!” she said. “As technology advances, traffickers…are early adopters and adapters of technology. The internet allows them to connect with victims and buyers far beyond their local area.”

“American citizens can traffic American citizens on American soil,” she added, noting that the majority of prosecuted trafficking cases involve American victims and perpetrators. “The biggest myth is that it happens somewhere else, and it happens to someone else. Until we start recognizing that people have value, no matter who they are, where they come from, what they’ve done or what’s been done to them, we will continue to excuse some level of exploitation.”

Writer/Columnist

Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to BizPac Review.

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