KANSAS CITY, Mo (KMOX) - More than 100 people were arrested and 47 victims of human trafficking – including two minors – were rescued in a 12-state operation led by the Missouri Attorney General's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A release from the office says it's believed to be the first Attorney General-led multi-state operation of its kind.
Of the 102 total arrests made across the country, the most were in Kentucky with 46, where 21 victims were also rescued. In Missouri, there were two arrests made and four victims rescued. In Illinois, there were three arrests made and one victim rescued.
All but six of the victims needed medical attention after being rescued across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
There were also nine people arrested at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
“Operation United Front was an unprecedented human trafficking operation that brought together law enforcement agencies from different jurisdictions – something that rarely happens," says Attorney General Eric Schmitt. "When we all come together, we can affect change and more effectively fight human trafficking, a crime that is often multi-jurisdictional in nature. My Office will not stop in our quest to investigate and eradicate human trafficking in Missouri.”
Here are the total arrest and rescue numbers per state:
Missouri: 2 arrests made, 4 victims rescued
Illinois: 3 arrests made, 1 victim rescued
Iowa: 11 arrests made, large amount of currency seized
Kentucky: 46 arrests made, 21 victims rescued, 2 minor victims rescued
Minnesota: 3 arrests made, 8 victims rescued
Nebraska: 7 arrests made
North Dakota: 3 arrests made, 6 victims rescued
Oklahoma: 7 arrests made, 1 victim rescued
Tennessee: 4 arrests made
Texas: 2 arrests made, 4 victims rescued
Wisconsin: 5 arrests made
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