Huron Police Department involved in recent FBI operation to nab sex trafficking

By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub
ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com
Posted Monday, August 12, 2019

The Huron Township Police Department was involved in a FBI-led sex trafficking sting recently that helped nab dozens of sex traffickers and hundreds of child victims across the country.

The Department of Justice announced last week the recovery or identification of 103 child victims and the arrest of 67 sex traffickers during Operation Independence Day.

The initiative — a revamping of a previously successful program — was executed during the month of July through 161 operations conducted nationwide.

Operation Independence Day relied on the 86 FBI-led Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs), which used the resources and intelligence of other federal, state, local, and tribal partners. Overall, more than 400 agencies participate in these task forces.

Huron Township police have been members of the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force for the past several years.

“Our agency is a proud partner of the FBI and their efforts to eradicate the exploitation of children through our involvement with the SEMTEC task force and further our participation in Innocence Lost National Initiative and Operation Independence Day 2019. As one of the nation’s preeminent task forces focused on human trafficking matters, it is clear each participating department is dedicated to mission and to the victims of these heinous crimes. I am further grateful to many of the community groups and service providers which have aided in our fight and been there to meet so many of the needs of the children who have been taken advantage of,” said Everette Robbins, director of public safety.

Operation Independence Day prioritized locating and rescuing missing minors who are at great risk for sexual exploitation, and arresting the traffickers exploiting them.

“Make no mistake, the FBI is fiercely focused on recovering child victims and arresting the sex traffickers who exploit them,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Through operations like this, the FBI helps child victims escape the abusive life of sex trafficking. Our agents, intelligence analysts, professional staff, and victim specialists work tirelessly before, during and after these operations to make sure that victims get the help they need to reclaim their lives.”