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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 global day…
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 around…
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 may…
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 year, the…
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 an…
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 arrested,…
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 hinge on…
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 ahead down…
2 min read • Child Exploitation • Field Operations • Sex 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 fight against child…
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, he was…
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 traffickers…
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 devices…
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 exploitive…
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 of smell…
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 refuge…
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 the field—supporting…
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 trafficking and…
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 at…
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 motion…
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 the rescue…
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 kind in…
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 teenage…
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, where cybercriminals…
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 law…
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.  Among…
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 key…
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 suspects have…
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 exploitation…
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 exploitation, helping…
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 and continued…
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 their first…
1 min read • Human 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.  The first…
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 nonprofits working…
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. The…
1 min read • Human 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 July of 2025,…
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 significant trauma…
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 neighborhoods,…
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 investigators…
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 Sinai,…
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 trafficking across…
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 contain…
2 min read • Human 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 moved…
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 documents…
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 pattern of…
2 min read • Homepage Featured • Human Trafficking • Mission Stories

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 can do more,…
1 min read • Field Operations

Operation Fog: A Digital Trail Leads to Justice in Thailand 

He was just 22 years old, living in a quiet neighborhood in Northeastern Thailand. To most, he likely looked like any other young man. But behind a network of private chat groups, he was allegedly managing channels used to distribute suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for profit.  His setup…
1 min read • Human Trafficking

“I Thought My Life Was Over”: Aisha’s Story of Survival and Strength 

*Survivor name changed for privacy  Aisha * was only 17 when her world changed. She left her village in Eastern Uganda believing she found work at a domestic job in neighboring Kenya. But the promise was a lie.  What awaited her instead was exploitation, isolation, and fear. Far from home,…
2 min read • Human Trafficking

109 Children Rescued, 244 Arrested in Statewide Crackdown

In May 2025, hundreds of law enforcement officers across North Texas joined forces for one mission: to rescue children. Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long effort led by the FBI Dallas and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, targeted individuals exploiting minors online, and what unfolded was…
1 min read • Field Operations

Albanian State Police Bring Down Multi-National Trafficking Network

Forty-four Colombian women thought they were leaving home for better opportunities. Promises of work and a better future drew them thousands of miles from home, all the way to Albania. But when they arrived, the truth quickly unraveled. There were no jobs waiting, only control, violence, and sexual exploitation.  We…
1 min read • Survivor Care

Eight-Year-Old Peruvian Survivor Confronts Possibility of HIV Infection After Sexual Abuse 

This time of year, most kids are enjoying fun days with friends and family. But for an eight-year-old girl in Lima, Peru, the month of June included being tested for HIV, after she survived the horrors of sexual abuse and having it recorded and distributed on the internet as child…
2 min read • Policy & Legal Advocacy

They Were Promised Jobs. They Were Forced Into Exploitation. 

Two young Colombian women, ages 21 and 22, thought they were leaving home for stable jobs in a textile factory in Peru. But instead of opportunity, they walked into the hands of a violent trafficking network.  As soon as they arrived in Lima, their documents were taken, their physical appearances…
1 min read • Field Operations

5-Year-Old’s Nightmare Ends, Our Rescue’s Forensic Donation Helps in Case 

A five-year-old girl in Hartford, Vermont was betrayed by someone her family thought they could trust. The 33-year-old man, who lived in the same apartment building, offered to help watch her. But during this time, he sexually abused the child and used her to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). …
2 min read • Field Operations

Three Arrested for Trafficking Women in Northern Greece 

A woman, lured to Greece by false promises of lucrative work, found herself trapped instead in a nightmare of exploitation. Deceived into thinking she would earn a good living, she arrived by plane just days before being locked into a cycle of sexual abuse and intimidation. The traffickers handed her keys to an apartment…
1 min read • Training and Prevention

A Record-Breaking Class of ESD K9 Teams Join the Fight Against Child Exploitation 

Just last week, Our Rescue celebrated a powerful milestone: the largest class of Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s we’ve ever sponsored graduated the Jordan Detection K9 program. Now, 11 new ESD K9 teams are ready to support law enforcement agencies across North America in the search for hidden electronic devices…
1 min read • Field Operations

Family Friend Arrested for Child Sexual Exploitation in Thailand, 14-Year-Old Boy Rescued 

When the family friend of a fourteen-year-old Thai boy being cared for by his aunt offered to step in and help, it seemed like an ideal situation. The boy’s parents were both in jail, and the aunt was struggling financially. Receiving care and attention from an adult male would be…
1 min read • Field Operations • Middle East and Africa • Mission Stories

Two Women Escape from Sex Trafficking, Traffickers Receive 9-Year Sentence Each 

When two Nigerian women were approached by a young woman and her male partner and offered jobs in domestic work, the women were receptive. They were told that the jobs would be high paying, though they needed to move to Ghana to accept them. The women agreed and traveled to…
1 min read • Field Operations

48 Hours in Indonesia – Part II 

Operation Badik – Back-to-Back Arrests in the Fight Against Child Exploitation Our Rescue Indonesia and law enforcement strike again just 48 hours apart.  Before the dust could settle from Operation Borneo Bound, the Our Rescue team in Indonesia boarded another flight, this time headed to South Sulawesi. Why? Because in a…

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