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1 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Mission Stories

Operation Trojan Horse Disrupts Human Trafficking Network in Romania 

In Romania, a criminal network was suspected of human trafficking, pimping, and a range of other serious offenses, harming countless individuals. The group is believed to have exploited vulnerable individuals while profiting from high-risk drug trafficking, money laundering, and more. Once the full scope of the network became clear, authorities,…
2 min read • Field Operations • Latin America • Mission Stories

Monster of Chosica: Investigation in Peru Leads to the Rescue of Three Children and Arrest of One Man 

A Peruvian male was allegedly creating and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across multiple social media platforms. As authorities began examining the activity linked to these online accounts, investigators identified the individual behind the content. What they uncovered next suggested that the sexual exploitation was not just limited to the digital environment, but it was happening inside the suspect’s own home.  Investigators determined that…
2 min read • Mission Stories • Training and Prevention • U.S./Canada

Our Rescue Brings Anti-Trafficking Training to the Transportation Industry 

This November, Our Rescue joined leaders from across the private passenger transportation sector at Mobilize, The Transportation Alliance’s annual conference in Las Vegas.   What many don’t realize is how deeply intertwined trafficking can be with transportation. In the United States, a 2023 report from the Human Trafficking Institute found that private…
1 min read • CSAM • Field Operations • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Jib Assist in Search Leads to Conviction in North Dakota Child-Exploitation Case 

In North Dakota, a case that began several years ago finally reached its conclusion this week. A former school principal, someone who families once trusted to guide and protect their children, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for the abuse of a child.  The details that emerged during…
7 min read • CSAM • Homepage Featured

 AI CSAM: The Growing Digital Threat to Children and How We’re Fighting Back

The Alarming Rise of AI-Generated Child Abuse Material Artificial intelligence has transformed countless industries, but criminals now exploit AI technology to create devastating new forms of child sexual abuse. In comparison to traditional CSAM, AI CSAM are sexually explicit images of children, created all or in part by…
7 min read • Homepage Featured • Human Trafficking Statistics

How Many Human Trafficking Cases Started Online: The Digital Crisis Our Rescue Is Fighting Worldwide

While many traffickers may have historically relied on in-person recruitment at places like bus stations, malls, and vulnerable neighborhoods, the digital age has radically expanded their toolkit with alarming statistics revealing that more and more  human trafficking cases started online. Recent data shows…
9 min read • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation

The Disturbing Psychology of Online Predators: What Every Parent Must Understand

When most parents picture online predators, they imagine shadowy figures lurking in chat rooms, deceiving children about their age and identity. This perception, while understandable, is dangerously inaccurate. The reality is far more sophisticated and psychologically complex than the “stranger danger” narrative suggests. Understanding the true psychology behind online…
1 min read • Field Operations • Latin America • Mission Stories

Operation CODIGO RESCATE 318: Responding to a Critical Call for Help 

In Ecuador, a 16-year-old Venezuelan minor was allegedly being sex trafficked and exploited. The case began when local authorities received a troubling missing minor report and possible child exploitation through the 911 call center in Guayaquil.  That urgent reality set a multi-agency response into motion on October 25. The Our Rescue team in Ecuador supported Operation CODIGO RESCATE 318 alongside the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Anti-Trafficking…
1 min read • Europe • Mission Stories • Training and Prevention

Elevating Survivor Voices at One Young World 2025  

This year, Our Rescue had the opportunity to help bring a survivor-centered conversation on human trafficking to one of the world’s most influential gatherings of emerging leaders: the One Young World 2025 Summit. More than 2,000 young changemakers from over 190 countries came together in Munich, Germany to exchange ideas and solutions…
7 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Online Exploitation • Statistics & Research

A Thousand-to-One: The Delta Between Funding and the Fight to Protect Children

A single detective sits before a sea of computer screens and media servers, surrounded by stacks of case files and hard drives, all while chipping away at a backlog that will take months—if not years—to clear. Each drive holds horrific digital evidence of child exploitation. The thousands of files…
1 min read • Child Exploitation • Prevention & Awareness

Announcing Operation Giving Tree – We’re Sending You on a Mission 

This holiday season, children should be safe.   Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 U.S. states.   In 2024, the CyberTipline received 20.5 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation.  To combat these crimes and fuel the mission during this crucial season of giving, Our Rescue is launching Operation Giving Tree, offering you a chance to…
1 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

Anti-Trafficking Operation in Greece Shuts Down Illegal Brothels 

Joint Operation Locates Brothels and Survivors in Athens On Thursday, November 6, the Sub-Directorate for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Goods of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime carried out a series of operations across multiple areas in Athens, Greece. The purpose was to locate individuals who may be survivors of human trafficking and to shut down illegal brothels where they were being…
2 min read • Prevention & Awareness

This Giving Tuesday: Double Your Impact for Human Trafficking Survivors, Families and Children

This Giving Tuesday, every dollar you give to Our Rescue will be doubled, helping to rescue and empower more survivors, and bring both awareness and change to stop the crisis of sex trafficking and child exploitation of our most vulnerable populations around the world.  Giving Tuesday is a…
2 min read • Prevention & Awareness

This Give to the Max Day: Double Your Impact for Human Trafficking Survivors, Families and Children

This Give to the Max Day every dollar you give to Our Rescue will be doubled, helping to rescue and empower more survivors, and bring both awareness and change to stop the crisis of sex trafficking and child exploitation of our most vulnerable populations…
2 min read • Prevention & Awareness

End-of-Year Giving: Tax Benefits, Corporate Matching, and Ways to Support the Mission 

Did you know giving can be a tax benefit?   As the year comes to a close, many supporters choose to make contributions that not only strengthen the fight against sex trafficking and child exploitation but may also offer tax advantages. Because Our Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations made before December 31…
1 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Field Operations • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

Our Rescue-Donated Digital Forensics Aid in Arrests of Two South Georgia Men on Child Sex Charges 

In two separate cases in South Georgia, law enforcement agencies utilized digital forensic equipment donated by Our Rescue to investigate and arrest men accused of sexual crimes against minors.   The first case involved a former teacher and coach in the Lowndes County School System. Earlier this…
4 min read • Child Exploitation • Field Operations • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

A Historic Milestone: Our Rescue’s Largest Sponsored ESD K9 Graduation  

Last Friday, November 14, Our Rescue celebrated a landmark moment: sponsoring our largest-ever graduation class of Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s with 14 new partnerships. Since our first ESD K9 was deployed back in 2017, we have seen the immense impact these incredible dogs have in the fight against child sexual exploitation. In fact, in 2025, our ESD K9s have achieved…
3 min read • Asia • Europe • Field Operations • Field Operations • Field Operations • Latin America • Mission Stories

Operation Global Impact 2025: A Major Step Forward in the Fight Against Sex Trafficking 

Operation Global Impact (OGI) 2025 was a groundbreaking international effort, bringing together law enforcement agencies and Our Rescue teams across three regions to tackle sex trafficking and child exploitation. In October, the operation concluded, and the final numbers are now in:  338 survivors rescued, including 74 children  243 individuals…
2 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Field Operations • Mission Stories • Online Exploitation • U.S./Canada

Speeding Up Justice: How Digital Forensics Is Helping Law Enforcement Combat Human Trafficking 

“For me, everything is timing,” said Agent Laurel Sexton of the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force.  For investigators working sex trafficking and child exploitation cases, every second is critical, especially when children are waiting to be found and offenders are walking free. The reality is that many cases…
6 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Online Exploitation • Sextortion

How Sexual Predators Are Using Technology to Reach Children | Featuring Mike Prado 

The fight against online child sexual exploitation is evolving rapidly. Derek Benner, CEO of Our Rescue, sat down with Mike Prado, leader of the DHS Cyber Crimes Center (C3), to discuss technology, law enforcement, and prevention strategies.  Derek Benner: Mike, you’re in your role, you’re not only looking…
2 min read • Child Exploitation • Field Operations • Human Trafficking • U.S./Canada

Beyond the Stats: The Heart Behind Every Case 

Hear directly from the men and women dedicating their lives to protecting the vulnerable  At Our Rescue, we proudly empower and support the heroic work of law enforcement both domestically and internationally.  Across the U.S., digital forensic units and police agencies play a critical role in the…
4 min read • Human Trafficking • Mission Stories • Sex Trafficking • Survivor Care • U.S./Canada

Lights, Camera, Captive: Suzie’s Journey to Freedom 

Eight years ago, Suzie’s life changed forever. What began as a relationship with someone she thought cared for her, soon turned into manipulation and control.  “I was young and naïve,” Suzie said. “This guy really liked me and wanted to know everything about me. Little did I know,…
2 min read • Asia • Europe • Field Operations • Field Operations • Field Operations • Latin America • Mission Stories • Survivor Care • Survivor Care • Survivor Care

Operation Global Impact 2025 (OGI) Update

Operation Global Impact (OGI) 2025 continues to make remarkable progress across Latin America, Asia, and Europe, with 212 arrests, 140 adults rescued, and 69 children rescued in less than three months. Thanks to the dedication of our in-country teams and your ongoing support, we are helping law enforcement bring…
3 min read • Child Exploitation • Field Operations • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Enzo Makes Immediate Impact in Illinois 

Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Enzo graduated from the Jordan Detection K9 Program in June 2025 and immediately went to work with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. Within weeks, K9 Enzo and his handler Detective Alexis Sciarrone assisted in major child exploitation investigations, helping uncover hidden…
9 min read • Human Trafficking • Prevention & Awareness

How Does Technology Help Human Traffickers? Exposing Digital Exploitation Methods and Combat Strategies

The Digital Evolution of Exploitation Human Sex Trafficking and online exploitation has evolved dramatically for consumers and criminals alike. And for those working in the fight against exploitation, understanding how technology can both enable predators as well as stopping predators is crucial for developing effective countermeasures. According to the…
1 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

OGI 2025 Update: Kosovo Operation Success 

On October 8, 2025, Our Rescue was on the ground with Kosovo law enforcement in a targeted operation to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This carefully coordinated effort spanned three separate locations and resulted in the arrest of three individuals responsible for distributing the sexually…
5 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Field Operations • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

Inside the Training Grounds: How ESD K9s Are Built for the Job 

A friendly, lap-loving Lab might not look like a cutting-edge crime-fighter—but don’t be fooled. Behind the wagging tail and soft eyes is a powerful partner in the fight against child exploitation and trafficking.  Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s are expertly trained police dogs that use their incredible sense…
1 min read • Asia • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

Next Steps: Building a Home for Healing in Nepal 

At the busy Nepal/India border, police officers stand as the first line of defense, working to recognize and protect women and children who may be embarking into situations of sex trafficking or exploitation. For many, the risk of trafficking or exploitation is real, driving the urgent need for safe…
4 min read • Field Operations • Latin America • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

2-Year-Old Girl Rescued in Chile from Sexual Exploitation  

Operation Global Impact 2025 (OGI) Update from Latin America   Operation Global Impact 2025 has been a tremendous success in Latin America, with 84 arrests and 48 minors rescued in less than three months. Our teams on the ground continue working tirelessly to put your donations to work in…
2 min read • Mission Stories • Survivor Care • U.S./Canada

Hope Rising in Memphis: Sparrow House Construction Begins  

A powerful U.S. partnership in Memphis is turning ashes into hope as a new safe home is built where survivors and their children can begin again.   Earlier this year, Our Rescue joined We Fight Monsters in a partnership to help raise a new shelter home for survivors of…
7 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Online Exploitation • Sextortion

A Decade-Long Partnership Takes on Child Exploitation’s Darkest New Threats

When Our Rescue CEO Derek Benner sat down with Mike Prado, Deputy Assistant Director of Homeland Security Investigations’ Cyber Crimes Center, or C3, their conversation marked more than a reunion. The two have been allies in the fight against child exploitation for more than a decade, first as colleagues…
1 min read • Asia • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

OGI Update: 2 Children Rescued During Operation Step in Thailand 

BREAKING: A 32-year-old man in Thailand was suspected of sexually exploiting two children, ages 9 and 12 years old. The man was allegedly recording child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his mobile phone. On the morning of October 8, law enforcement and the Our Rescue team set plans in…
1 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

Major Human Trafficking Operations in Romania Lead to Multiple Arrests and Rescues 

Within two days, Our Rescue personnel supported two major operations alongside the Romanian National Police, resulting in the dismantling of organized crime groups and the rescue of multiple survivors.  On September 30, authorities carried out a targeted action in Southern Romania. This operation led to 5 arrests and…
1 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Field Operations

ESD K9 Tango Assists in Pennsylvania’s First Case Under New AI Exploitation Law 

Authorities in York County, Pennsylvania, say 22-year-old Luke Teipel collected dozens of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files— some real, and others generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Luke is now facing 33 felony counts of possession of CSAM.  This is the first case of its…
2 min read • Field Operations • Operations • Survivor Care

Two Teenage Girls Rescued in Quito, Ecuador During Operation Global Impact 2025 

In Ecuador, a 17-year-old girl was missing from her hometown after she was falsely promised a job by suspicious men. What seemed like an opportunity quickly became a trap, and she was forced into sexual exploitation. Her case sparked an investigation that would lead to the rescue of two…
7 min read • Child Exploitation • Sextortion

AI Sextortion Scam: How Criminals Use Technology to Exploit Children and Families

The Digital Predator Revolution: When Artificial Intelligence Becomes a Weapon The digital landscape has fundamentally shifted, and criminals now wield artificial intelligence (AI) as their newest weapon against vulnerable children and families. Within AI crimes,  AI sextortion scam represents one of the most insidious forms of online exploitation,…
10 min read • Child Exploitation • Online Exploitation

How Online Grooming Fuels the Growing Digital Child Exploitation Crisis

The digital age has transformed childhood, bringing unprecedented opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. However, this same technology has created new pathways for predators to exploit vulnerable children. Online grooming has emerged as an easy gateway for child sexual exploitation, with devastating consequences that extend far beyond the digital realm.
5 min read • CSAM

Understanding the ICAC Task Force: America’s Shield Against Online Child Exploitation

What is ICAC? The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program represents one of the most comprehensive law enforcement initiatives in the United States, specifically designed to combat online child exploitation and internet crimes targeting minors. This national network coordinates efforts between federal agencies, state authorities, and local…
5 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM • Online Exploitation • Our Perspectives

An Audacious Goal: The Future of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces

If there’s one thing I’ve witnessed over the years during my work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and now at my current role as CEO of Our Rescue, it’s the realization that the people who dedicate their lives to fighting child sexual exploitation are real life heroes. …
4 min read • What Is Human Trafficking

A Behind the Scenes Look into the Creation of “Hiding in Plain Sight: America’sTrafficking Epidemic”

“If I can bring help to even one person to understand what’s happening, to see the signs, to know how to act, that’s enough,” said Nick Nanton, Emmy Award-Winning Director. “Even if it’s just one parent, one teacher, one community member who can make a difference, that’s why…
5 min read • Where Does Human Trafficking Happen

Human trafficking routes reach new territory across Africa and Asia, sparking urgent action

A new report by the 2025 Freedom Collaborative warns that perpetrators of human trafficking are pushing into new territory, funneling victims from East Africa and Horn of Africa into Southeast Asia, including the countries of Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand. Ethiopia is also emerging as a…
4 min read • Field Operations • Field Operations • Mission Stories

Operation Global Impact 2025 – FIRST UPDATE

Operation Global Impact 2025 is underway and multiple law enforcement actions have already taken place in the Latin America and Asia regions, with many more to come.  In total, 33 law enforcement actions have been carried out since Operation Global Impact 2025 began in August. The results? 47…
1 min read • Field Operations

ESD K9 Trace Assists in Three Arrests in Thunder Bay Child Exploitation Investigations 

K9 Trace, an Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) dog, has already supported law enforcement in over 30 searches since joining the Thunder Bay Police Service in January 2024. In his short two years of service, Trace has helped officers uncover devices in critical cases, including three recent child…
3 min read • Organization

Announcing Operation Global Impact 2025: A Six-Week International Surge Against Human Trafficking 

This fall, Our Rescue is launching Operation Global Impact 2025, a coordinated international surge operation across 10 countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.   We expect multiple operations with police partners in the coming weeks to identify and rescue survivors of sex trafficking and child…
1 min read • Field Operations

Coordinated Prison Raid in Ecuador Uncovers Disturbing Crimes

He promised children free video games. What they got instead was exploitation. In Ecuador, a 24-year-old man, barely three weeks into a prison sentence for gender-based violence, is the alleged suspect in a disturbing case of child sexual exploitation that investigators say began in a neighborhood cyber café…
1 min read • Mission Stories • Training and Prevention • U.S./Canada

Training Sponsored by Our Rescue Leads to Major Success for Minnesota Task Force 

Earlier this year, four officers from the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force enrolled in Our Rescue’s Human Trafficking Task Force program. Through this training, they received specialized instruction and equipment designed to help them identify, investigate, and respond to trafficking.  Just months later, those same officers reported…
1 min read • Sex Trafficking

From Trauma to Triumph: A Survivor’s Journey of Resilience and Enterprise 

When *Luya returned to Zambia after surviving human trafficking, she carried the weight of trauma and uncertainty. Life at home was not easy, she needed emotional healing and faced economic hardship. Yet even in the midst of this struggle, she began taking small but powerful steps to rebuild her life. …
2 min read • Field Operations

An Inside Look At Our Rescue’s First Domestic Surge Operation

Predators and traffickers don’t stop at state lines, and we don’t either.   In August 2025, the first surge operation of the Interstate Justice Coalition put that reality into sharp focus. For two days, teams worked across Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, bringing together three independent…
1 min read • Field Operations

Nine Women Rescued from Trafficking in Panama, 2 Men Arrested

In Panama, two men were smuggling nine Iranian women from Panama City to the Costa Rican border. However, instead of safely transporting the women, the men forced them into sexual exploitation, telling them it was to pay for their transportation costs, trapping them in a nightmare far from home.
1 min read • Sex Trafficking

Shaman Sentenced to 34 Years for Exploiting Children Under Guise of Spiritual Rituals 

Claiming to be a shaman in Ecuador, a Peruvian national named Luzgardo M. used spiritual rituals as a cover to secretly exploit children. Investigators discovered that he was filming minors during these so-called ceremonies, actively producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) under the guise of spiritual practices.  In…
1 min read • Field Operations

From Rescue to Reunion: Survivor Returns Home to Bolivia  

On June 21, 2025, a Bolivian human trafficking survivor was safely repatriated from Lima, Peru to her hometown of Cochabamba, Bolivia thanks to the combined efforts of Our Rescue, the Peruvian Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Lima Region, and the Bolivian Consulate in Lima.   This survivor had endured…
2 min read • Field Operations

Suspects in Northern Kentucky Possess CSAM, ESD K9 Mo Helps Strike Back 

Children being exploited online is an ever-growing threat in communities across the country. Every day, predators use technology to share, download, and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM), leaving children traumatized and putting more in danger. These crimes aren’t just staying hidden on the internet, they are spreading into…
1 min read • Field Operations

Zanesville Man Sentenced to 13–16 Years in Prison for Possessing Exploitative Material Involving Minors 

In early 2025, detectives received a tip through the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) data system about possible child sexual abuse material (CSAM) being uploaded from a Kik messenger account in Zanesville, Ohio. After further investigation, the report, submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, led…
2 min read • Field Operations

Operation Gran Guardian 02: Six-Month Investigation Leads to Arrest for Child Sexual Abuse Material 

In one of Ecuador’s most volatile urban zones, where the threat of organized crime looms heavy and law enforcement presence is often met with resistance, a joint operation was quietly set in motion. It was the culmination of a six-month investigation, one that would lead police deep into Monte…
2 min read • Training and Prevention

Honoring a Heroic Team: ESD K9 Mousse and Special Agent McVey Retire After Years of Dedicated Service Protecting Children

This summer marks the retirement of Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Mousse, Iowa’s first Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9. For five years, Mousse has worked alongside his handler, Special Agent Michael McVey with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, supporting investigations into child exploitation and human…
1 min read • Child Exploitation • CSAM

741 Files. One Townhouse. And a Tip That Sparked a Collective Response. 

A 24-year-old man living in Central Thailand was quietly collecting disturbing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), content authorities believe he downloaded from private chat groups. Though he denied producing any of the files, he admitted to accessing and storing them on his phone. That phone would later be found to…
2 min read • Sex Trafficking

Homeless Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor 

In the spring of 2025, law enforcement received a call about a missing 15-year-old girl. The caller, who had taken the girl’s phone, told officers about her boyfriend who was a man going by the name Devan “Harmon.” At just eighteen years old, Devan was homeless and had reportedly…
1 min read • Field Operations

Six Arrested, 1 Survivor Rescued in Spain During Cross-Border Human Trafficking Crackdown 

A young Panamanian woman, lured with false promises of work, was trafficked to Spain and forced into sexual exploitation. Criminal elements in Colombia, Spain, and Panama were working together to recruit and transport women for this purpose, and she fell prey to their international network. Her freedom stripped, her…
2 min read • Field Operations

1 Small Town, 3 Arrests

Our Rescue-funded tech helps arrest three men for alleged child sexual abuse and exploitation in separate cases In Anderson, California, three separate men were arrested within months of each other, each accused of crimes involving the sexual abuse and the exploitation of children. The details differ, but the…
2 min read • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Sex Trafficking

A New Way to Show Up: Introducing Surge Operations

Traffickers don’t stay in one place, and neither can we. – Derek Benner, CEO  At Our Rescue, we’re evolving our global presence to become more impactful, and mission aligned – meeting the needs of our partners. We’re always asking ourselves how we…

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