Following a two-day law enforcement operation on November 2 and 3, 2023, authorities in Tennessee successfully recovered 13 children at risk of human trafficking in the Memphis, Tennessee area.

The children, aged between 11 and 17 years, including a two-month-old infant, were identified and rescued during this initiative.

Named “Operation Not for Sale,” this collaborative effort involved multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies over two days.

The focus of the operation was on children vulnerable to trafficking due to various factors such as histories of domestic violence or sexual abuse, as well as unstable family environments. Such backgrounds often make these children susceptible to exploitation.

According to 2021 statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, over 17,200 instances of child sex trafficking and approximately 25,000 reports of runaway children were recorded, highlighting a severe issue in the U.S.

The Administration for Children and Families and the Polaris Project outline the complexity of combating trafficking. Efforts include raising awareness, recognizing signs of trafficking, and supporting local anti-trafficking groups.

This Tennessee operation follows “Operation Music City Missing” in Davidson County, in September, where 12 minors were found. Both operations demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement in tackling human trafficking and protecting at-risk communities.