Kansas City, MO – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a recent operation in Wichita, Kansas; Independence, Missouri; and Kansas City, Missouri, resulted in the rescue of 31 victims of human trafficking — including 14 missing children — for sexual exploitation.
ICE said the youngest child was 4 years old.
According to ICE, the operation took place June 17-26 and the enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of 82 individuals who will be charged with crimes related to soliciting prostitution, commercial sex trafficking, sodomy, narcotics violations, felony assault on a police officer, sex offender registry violations and outstanding warrants.
A slew of agencies, both local and federal were involved in the operation: HSI Kansas City, along with HSI Wichita, the Wichita Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Health and Human Services, United States Marshal’s Service, Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hutchinson Police Department.
KMBZ's reporting partner KMBC-TV contributed to this report.