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USA: 32 Victims of Human Trafficking Rescued by Arkansas Authorities

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Authorities in Arkansas rescued 32 victims of human trafficking during a one-day operation conducted in Hot Springs this month, the state’s Department of Public Safety announced last week.

Titled Operation HOPE (Help and Opportunity to Prevent Exploitation), the rescue was carried out by Arkansas State Police (ASP) and members of the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council with the coordinated assistance of several other federal, state, local, and non-government organizations.

“Seven women believed to be victims of human trafficking were offered services, and another 25 local victims were identified as part of Operation HOPE (Help and Opportunity to Prevent Exploitation), which took place in Hot Springs this month,” the Arkansas DPS said in a May 20 press statement.

“The multidisciplinary operation consisted of law enforcement and victim service providers from around the state, working together to combat human trafficking, recover victims, and detain traffickers to make our communities safer,” the statement reads.
The victims are now being offered services including food, accommodation, medical care, counseling, therapy, and drug rehabilitation, the DPS said.

“The dedicated law enforcement community in Arkansas is fully committed to approaching the grim reality of human trafficking with empathy, aiming to rescue victims from the shadows and provide them with the support and care they need to recover,” ASP Director Colonel Mike Hagar said in a statement.