.jpg)
A cross-U.S. sting operation has resulted in over 200 child sex predators being arrested, while roughly 115 children were found and rescued.
Recently, the Department of Justice worked alongside local authorities to work together to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators.
Of the 200 people arrested in direct connection to sexually trafficking children, two of those were in law enforcement. This included a Minnesota state trooper and a D.C. police officer, according to the report.
"The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims – especially child victims – and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
The sting took place over the course of five days, from April 28 through May 2.
"I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice, and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate."
The team called this mission “Operation Restore Justice,” and this isn't where they will end their work on rescuing children being trafficked or arresting predators.
"Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us," said FBI Director Kash Patel.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts also shared her thoughts on the operation, stating the importance of rescuing children caught in sex trafficking.
"Protecting children from exploitation is among the most sacred responsibilities we have in law enforcement," says Foley. "Each case serves as a difficult reminder that child predators are embedded in our communities. Some take on roles that increase their direct contact with children, while others prey on children from behind a keyboard. But make no mistake, we will identify, arrest, and hold every one of them accountable, no matter how long it takes or how far we have to go."