The Federal Bureau of Investigations just concluded a nationwide “Operation Cross Country” in which local, state, and federal agencies worked together in the recovery of child prostitutes and the arrests of the child traffickers and pimps. There were 23 children rescued in the Puget Sound area alone during this operation. Nationwide, there were 69 children recovered. A number of suspects have been arrested. The Seattle Police Department remains vigilent in investigating these types of crimes as we continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that no other children are victimized. For a little historical perspective, the Seattle Police Department’s Innocence Lost Task Force has recovered 77 vicitms in the Puget Sound area in 2010. In 2009, the number of victims recovered was 30, and in 2008 the total was 20.
Here is a link to the FBI’s statement: