Eleven missing children are back in safe hands this week after Georgia authorities joined forces with 250 law enforcement agencies for a massive sweep dubbed Operation “Coast to Coast.”
The multi-state crackdown, which mobilized simultaneously on Thursday, targeted human trafficking networks across 30 different states.
While the operation identified 154 adult victims nationwide—including one woman who is seven months pregnant—Georgia proved to be a focal point for the recovery of minors. Out of 12 children rescued across the entire country, 11 were found right here in Georgia.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, whose Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit led the local efforts, noted that the recovery of missing children is often the first step in dismantling larger criminal rings.
READ: Georgia And Florida Burning: Wildfires Swallow 120 Homes As Drought Turns South Into A Tinderbox
“Sadly, the vast majority of our human trafficking cases involve a child who’s gone missing,” Carr said following the announcement. “That’s why operations like this are so important—allowing our team to work with law enforcement from across the country to safely locate victims, dismantle trafficking networks, and hold predators accountable.”
The operation was spearheaded by the Human Trafficking Training Center, founded by former Missouri State Trooper Dan Nash. In Georgia, the Attorney General’s office didn’t work alone; they collaborated with a long list of partners, ranging from the FBI and the GBI to local police departments in Atlanta, Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb. Even Delta Airlines and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children played a role in the logistics of the sweep.
This isn’t the first time the state has seen high-volume recoveries. Since Carr’s specialized unit was formed in 2019, it has secured more than 70 convictions and assisted over 200 children.
READ: From Jacksonville To The Florida Keys: Lake City Man Jailed After Stolen Bike Bust Turns Violent
Previous efforts, such as Operation “Not Forgotten,” resulted in the recovery of dozens of children in 2020 and 2021. In one notable past case, the recovery of a single 17-year-old girl in Fulton County led to the successful prosecution of 13 different traffickers.
Beyond the recovery of the 11 children this week, officials confirmed that the operation has already sparked several new human trafficking investigations. Carr emphasized that while the immediate mission of Operation “Coast to Coast” has concluded, the legal follow-up is just beginning.
“I’m proud of our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit for their tireless efforts over the past few days, but our work doesn’t stop here,” Carr stated. “We will keep fighting until every child is recovered and every trafficker is behind bars.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
