When we hear about human trafficking, it is easy to think it is not happening in our communities and that federal law enforcement agencies handle those crimes. However, this most often is not the case. The human trafficking epidemic is a global problem that can and does occur in almost every state and community. Like many of the challenges we face as law enforcement professionals, it is one that calls for a united effort and effective partnerships in order to be truly successful. This was recently demonstrated in June 2014, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), working with state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) successfully completed Operation Cross Country Ⅷ with 54 FBI field divisions nationwide. The effort included enforcement actions in 106 cities with officers from more than 400 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and resulted in the recovery of 168 children who were being victimized through prostitution and the arrest of 281 pimps on state and federal charges.
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