"OPERATION LOST SOULS"

Homeland Security, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and many other agencies worked on a three-month-long operation involving missing children.

“Operation Lost Souls” was the name of the critical operation to help locate missing children. The operation ran out of El Paso, Midland, as well as Ector, and Green counties. During the operation, an astounding seventy children were recovered.

THE ABUSE THEY ENDURED

Many of the missing children were runaways ages 10 to 17. Sadly, many of the children were victims of sex trafficking and suffered physical and sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

The majority of the missing children were recovered in Texas, but some were located in Colorado and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, authorities said.

EXTRA SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS

Operation Lost Souls" was able to reunite families with their young loved ones. However, with the difficulties the children went through they will need extensive amounts of support to get back to a normal routine. The agencies involved will provide the victims and their families services and counseling to help them work through the difficult times ahead.

“Operation Lost Souls exemplifies Homeland Security Investigations’ commitment to protecting the public from crimes of victimization. In this case, we are looking out for our children - our community’s most precious resource,” said HSI El Paso Deputy Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

“HSI is committed to continuing working with our law enforcement partners to locate, recover and help missing children heal while ensuring that perpetrators are held responsible for these heinous crimes and brought to justice.”

If you have information about a human trafficking victim or information about this type of criminal activity, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.

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