"Operation Lost Souls" rescued the missing children—many of whom were sex-trafficking victims.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and other federal, state, and local agencies recently announced they had rescued 70 missing children. The news of the recovered children was announced on May 25, which just so happened to be National Missing Children’s Day.

Part of a 3-week operation, "Operation Lost Souls" ran from the end of April through mid-May.

Many of the missing children are between the ages of 10 to 17, with HSI reporting that many of them were runaways. The children rescued included victims of sex trafficking and physical/sexual abuse.

"Operation Lost Souls exemplifies Homeland Security Investigations’ commitment to protecting the public from crimes of victimization. In this case, we are looking out for our children - our community’s most precious resource," said HSI El Paso Deputy Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho. "HSI is committed to continue working with our law enforcement partners to locate, recover and help missing children heal, while ensuring that perpetrators are held responsible for these heinous crimes and brought to justice."

In addition, the operation produced more information and leads, which are currently being investigated.

"At the Department of Public Safety, teamwork is one of our core values," said DPS Major Matthew Mull. "We are grateful for all of our law enforcement partners who participated in this operation and who work around-the-clock every day to protect our communities, including our youth."

Assisting agencies included:

  • HSI Ciudad Juarez
  • Attache Office
  • West Texas Anti-Gang Center
  • Texas Highway Patrol
  • El Paso Police Department
  • U.S. Marshals Service
  • FBI
  • El Paso County Constables
  • Socorro (Texas) Police Department (SPD)
  • Department of Family and Protective Services
  • El Paso Independent School District Police Department
  • Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission
  • Juvenile Probation Department
  • San Angelo (Texas) Police Department
  • Tom Green (Texas) County Sheriff’s Office
  • Odessa (Texas) Police Department
  • Ector (Texas) County Sheriff's Office
  • Ector County Independent School District Police Department

  • Midland (Texas) County Sheriff's Office
  • Midland County Independent School District
  • Midland Juvenile Probation Department
  • Advocacy Center for Children of El Paso
  • Paseo Del Norte Center of Hope
  • El Paso Center for Children
  • Midland Rape Crisis and Children's Advocacy Center
  • Harmony Home Children's Advocacy Center
  • Midland Memorial Hospital SANE Nurses
  • Medical Center Hospital SANE Nurses

If you have information about a human trafficking victim or information about this type of criminal activity, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.