Three juvenile victims of sex trafficking were recovered and four pimps were arrested in Miami as part of a nationwide operation, FBI officials said Monday.
The recovery and arrests were part of Operation Cross Country VIII, which resulted in 168 recoveries of children who were being victimized through prostitution throughout the U.S., officials said. Some 281 pimps were also arrested as part of the operation, which was conducted in 106 cities nationwide.
Locally, the FBI worked with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Gardens Police Department, Davie Police Department, Jupiter Police Department and Fort Lauderdale Police Department in the operation, which occurred from June 19 to 21, FBI spokesman Michael Leverock said.
The four South Florida suspects haven't been identified.
"Targeting and harming America’s children through commercial sex trafficking is a heinous crime, with serious consequences," FBI Director James B. Comey said in a statement. "Every child deserves to be safe and sound. Through targeted measures like Operation Cross Country, we can end the cycle of victimization."
