The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) in conjunction with federal and local law enforcement completed an operation in Memphis to rescue 13 children who are suspected victims of human trafficking.
Participating in the operation, which was called Operation Not for Sale, were the United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Memphis Police Department’s Human Trafficking Task Force and Organized Crime Unit, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services’ Absconder Unit and Human Trafficking Response Team, according to a release.
The operation was conducted on November 2 and 3, and according to TBI, intelligence analysts from the law enforcement entities worked for weeks before the operation to identify Memphis-area children who were suspected to be victims of child trafficking.
TBI said that 12 children between the ages of 11 and 17 were rescued during the operation, along with a two-month-old infant who was not identified before the operation as at-risk.
“This operation shows the impact of collaboration and dedication to protecting these vulnerable individuals,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “Multiple disciplines are necessary when dealing with the sensitive issue of human trafficking due to the immense trauma that these victims suffer. We are excited about the outcomes and look forward to more operations of this nature with our partners.”
“Every day the United States Marshals Service hopes we have the opportunity to utilize our authority in finding missing, endangered, or abducted children in our country. This operation, in which our efforts continue, has already shown great success,” said Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, according to TBI. “We are grateful to work alongside such committed partners to bring children in West Tennessee home.”
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said she was proud of MPD’s work.
“When criminals are apprehended, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting bad actors behind bars, but that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to saving a missing child who is being exploited,” she said. “Human traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and bring unimaginable harm to their victims. I am very proud that the Memphis Police Department was part of this successful operation and thankful for the cooperative work done by all of the agencies involved in safeguarding at-risk children.”
Tennessee has recently poured resources into combating human trafficking, including an initiative called It Has to Stop.
Through a website called ithastostop.com, TBI now offers information on the state’s approach to ending the practice.
A grant from the State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs funds the site.
“To solve a problem, you have to understand it,” the site says. “And in Tennessee, comprehensive research influences our state’s approach to ending human trafficking. Actionable data and real-life stories help lawmakers, law enforcement, and the state’s nonprofit sector develop innovative ideas to strengthen laws and services for survivors.”
During August’s special session of the General Assembly, lawmakers passed a bill to combat human trafficking that was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee (R).
The bill requires TBI to “submit a report on child and human trafficking crimes and trends in this state, based upon data available to the bureau, as well as current programs and activities of the bureau’s human trafficking unit, to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the speaker of the senate by December 1, 2023, and by each December 1 thereafter.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
