MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 26, 2025 — Our Rescue, in partnership with Skull Games Solutions and We Fight Monsters, announced the results of its first official surge operation conducted by the the Interstate Justice Coalition (IJC). This two-day operation, held last week on August 21-22, spanned Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and marked a major milestone in the coalition’s commitment to combat human trafficking across state lines.
Conducted in full partnership and collaboration with multiple state and local law enforcement agencies, the operation combined advanced officer training, digital intelligence, and coordinated enforcement actions to target traffickers, exploiters, and criminal networks while identifying and recovering victims.
The results:
- 32 victims of human trafficking identified
- 26 survivors of trafficking recovered safely
- 12 suspected traffickers identified
- 10 sex trafficking arrests
- 5 additional exploiters taken into custody
“This first surge operation under the Interstate Justice Coalition shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement and nonprofits come together with one mission—protecting the vulnerable,” said Derek Benner, CEO of Our Rescue. “No one organization can stop trafficking alone so we are grateful for the collaboration of dozens of law enforcement agencies determined to stop this crime.”
The operation began with Advanced Human Trafficking Training conducted by Skull Games Solutions. According to Jeff Tiegs, founder of Skull Games Solutions, “Training is the foundation of successful counter trafficking operations. By equipping officers with advanced counter trafficking and Applied OSINT skills, we immediately rolled into enforcement actions that identified dozens of survivors and put traffickers behind bars. This is what the Interstate Justice Coalition was built for, training combined with coordinated action.”
Following training, Law Enforcement teams were then deployed across multiple locations that spanned across Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Among the arrests, the cases included a registered sex offender who had continued exploiting victims, an arrest for distributing narcotics to would-be victims, and the safe recovery of an infant after their caretaker fled arrest.
For We Fight Monsters, the multi-state scope of the operation demonstrated the coalition’s unique value. “The alliances we’ve forged here in the Mid-South shouldn’t even exist,’ said Ben Owen, Co-Founder of We Fight Monsters. ‘Many of us spent years running from these very agencies when we were trapped in addiction and crime. Now those same officers stand shoulder to shoulder with us – willing to bleed in the trenches to pull women and kids out of the grip of predators. That’s what redemption looks like. That’s what real partnership looks like. And together, were making the streets too dangerous for traffickers to operate in.”
“Being able to stand in solidarity with those that have walked the walk and lived to recover and talk about it, gives us a unique approach on breaking the vicious cycles of addiction, trafficking, and abuse. This alliance is nothing short of a miracle and should stand as a pilot program for every city knowing that great things can be accomplished if we all work together for the better good.” Johnie Carter, Director of West TN Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
“When you are provided with the privilege to be that person to possibly open a door to a new path in life, you don’t take it lightly. It is an honor and a blessing to literally stand at the threshold to a victim’s new life beyond addiction, abuse, and suffering. An alliance of hope is hard to beat,” said Special Agent Robert Akers 30th Judicial District West TN Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
Partnerships That Made It Possible
This first Interstate Justice Coalition surge operation was possible due to the partnership between Our Rescue, Skull Games Solutions, and We Fight Monsters. It was conducted with numerous state and local law enforcement agencies and victim service partners.
Law Enforcement Partners: Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics; Desoto County Sheriff’s Office; Southaven PD; Olive Branch PD; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; West Tennessee Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force; District 27 VCTF (OK); District 16 Drug TF (OK); District 23 VCTF (OK); Pottawatomie County SO (OK); Shawnee PD (OK); Tecumseh PD (OK); Shawnee Absentee Tribal PD (OK); Poteau PD (OK); Leflore County SO (OK).
Survivor Service Partners: Hope Foundation; Center for Violence Prevention; City Gate Church; Restore Corps; Oklahoma DHS; LeFlore County Women’s Crisis Center; Dragonfly House.
Special recognition to DataPilot, who provided in-house digital forensics to ensure no evidence was overlooked.
For information about the program and partnership, go to the Interstate Justice Coalition (IJC).
Interstate Justice Coalition (IJC) is a collaboration with Our Rescue, Skull Games Solutions and We Fight Monsters to power Multi-State Domestic surge operations, designed to support and enhance U.S. law enforcement efforts in disrupting trafficking networks and provide critical support to survivors.
Our Rescue is a global nonprofit, focused on ending sex trafficking and child exploitation through operational support, survivor care, and training and prevention programs.
Skull Games Solutions is a veteran-founded nonprofit that leverages Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) expertise, intelligence gathering techniques, and operational best practices to identify victims of sex trafficking and assist law enforcement in interdicting predators for pleasure and predators for profit.
We Fight Monsters is a nonprofit that is made up of former special operators, law enforcement professionals, ex-cons, former gang members, and addiction recovery champions, we are united by one mission: to confront the evils of human and narcotics trafficking head-on. From shutting down sources of exploitation to rescuing the vulnerable and reclaiming neighborhoods, our work is about restoring dignity and bringing hope where it’s been stolen. We fight monsters—so that every community has a chance at a brighter tomorrow.