(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Jackson Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with partners from state and local law enforcement agencies, announced today that 28 individuals associated with prostitution were arrested as a result of Operation Cross Country in Mississippi.
Operation Cross Country is an international, joint law enforcement operation focused on recovering underage victims of prostitution and drawing the public’s attention to the problem of sex trafficking at home and abroad.
Five pimps, 22 prostitutes and one person on narcotics charges were arrested as a result of Operation Cross Country. The operation took place in Mississippi on Oct. 13 and 14.
Nationwide, 82 minors were rescued and 239 pimps and their associates were arrested as part of Operation Cross Country. FBI Director Comey made the announcement Monday.
“Operation Cross Country aims to shine a spotlight into the darkest corners of our society that seeks to prey on the most vulnerable of our population,” said FBI Director Comey. “As part of this effort, we are not only looking to root out those who engage in the trafficking of minors, but, through our Office of Victim Assistance, we offer a lifeline to minors to help them escape a from a virtual prison no person ever deserves.”
The FBI’s Jackson Division partnered with The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, Jackson Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, Madison Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Southaven Police Department for Operation Cross Country.
Operation Cross Country X is the largest ever in the history of the initiative, with 55 FBI field offices and 71 state and local task forces taking part in the operation in 106 cities across America. In addition, several dozen operations across Canada, and approximately ten operations took place in six cities across Cambodia, Thailand and The Philippines.
Operation Cross Country X is part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost Initiative, which began in 2003. These teams work all year to recover minor trafficking victims. Since the inception of the program, there have been more than 6,100 child identifications and locations.
For additional information on Operation Cross Country X and the Innocence Lost initiative, please visit www.fbi.gov.
