Equipping Utah’s Frontline Shelter Workers to Recognize Human Trafficking

For someone experiencing homelessness, an emergency shelter can provide a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, and connections to resources that can start them in a new direction. It can also offer hope, care, stability, and a sense of connection – a place where one can seek refuge. Shelters…

They Burned Evidence. But They Couldn’t Burn the Truth: Going behind the scenes on the frontlines of Latin America’s fight against child exploitation

Note: Because aspects of this multinational investigation remain active, certain operational details have been intentionally withheld to protect the integrity of ongoing law enforcement efforts and future enforcement actions. Somewhere Tonight, a Child Is Sleeping Safer Somewhere in Ecuador, a child is sleeping a little safer tonight. They may never…

A Well-Deserved Honor: Detective Jeffrey Winiarski and ESD K9 Maui Recognized for Protecting Children 

Behind every successful child exploitation investigation is a team willing to do difficult work that most people never see. Sometimes, that team includes four legs and an extraordinary nose.  For Detective Jeffrey Winiarski of the Janesville Police Department and his Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9, Maui, protecting children has become a shared…

Two-Day Mega Operation “Los Trenes” – Peruvian Law Enforcement, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and Our Rescue Target Transnational Criminal Organizations

Over the course of two days, April 29-30, 2026, Peruvian and U.S. law enforcement agencies came together to execute a concentrated “Mega Operation” appropriately named “Los Trenes” after the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) they aimed to bring down. With on-the-ground support from Our Rescue, this operation intended to disrupt and dismantle a criminal network that was suspected of leaving a trail of human…

Update: Operation Código Rescate XIII Breaks a Covert Human Trafficking Network South of Quito

The following is an update on a case that was first reported in 2025 after Operation Código Rescate XIII, a coordinated anti-trafficking response that uncovered a hidden exploitation network operating out of a private residence south of Quito, Ecuador. Conviction Update: A Step Toward Justice On May…

Bringing a Vulnerable 9-Year-Old Girl to Safety: Our Rescue’s Team in Asia Supports Field Operations in North Thailand 

Human trafficking and child exploitation are some of the most prevalent crimes in the world today. Some experts speculate that yearly profits from these unspeakable crimes may one day surpass those of the international drug trade. “This is an epidemic of a scope and scale never seen before. We face a common threat that is rapidly growing, spreading, and constantly evolving,” said Richard Morley, Regional Director for Our…

Turning Training into Action: How OSINT Partnerships Are Strengthening the Fight to Protect Children in Romania 

Behind every major enforcement operation is a quieter story—one that begins long before search warrants are executed, or arrests are made. It begins with training rooms, case simulations, and the steady building of skills that help investigators recognize what others might miss: the digital traces left behind when a child is being exploited. …

Protecting Children Before Exploitation Happens: Strengthening Ecuador’s Fight Against Online Trafficking 

For many parents, a social media friend request, an online conversation, or a potential job opportunity shared through a messaging app may seem harmless.  For human traffickers, those same interactions can be the first step toward exploitation.  Today, human trafficking and child exploitation often begin long before a victim is ever physically encountered. Increasingly, predators…

The Power of Your Voice Returns to Manta: Join the 2nd Annual 1K, 5K & 10K Race Against Child Exploitation 

Raising our voices, taking our steps, and standing together as we race for a safer future for every child in Ecuador  On September 20, 2026, hundreds of runners, families, advocates, and community members will gather in Manta, Ecuador, for the second annual El Poder De Tu Voz, The Power of…

Tracking Hidden Evidence: How One ESD K9 is Helping Fight Human Trafficking in Alaska  

When we think of police dogs, we may envision the intense stare of a German Shepherd or the explosive speed of a Belgian Malinois in pursuit of a fleeing suspect. Few imagine a calm and quiet Labrador Retriever methodically moving through a clutter-filled room, nose to the floor, searching every square inch for electronic devices that could hold the evidence needed to rescue a child and bring offenders to justice.  …

When Every Second Counts: Operation FENIX 256 Rescues 17-Year-Old Ecuadorian Girl from Future of Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

At the end of 2025, Our Rescue’s Latin America team came together with the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Anti-Trafficking Unit (UNAT) and the Attorney General’s Office (FGE) to execute Operation FENIX 256, a joint effort that would span multiple regions and confront a criminal network known for human trafficking and exploitation.  This is the story of…

Detecting Child Exploitation: How ESD K9 Arwen Finds What Criminals Are Hiding 

You’re staring at the mugshot of a suspected child predator.   They stare back from their booking photo; accused of crimes that can leave lifelong scars on children, families, and entire communities.   Then, you look into the warm brown eyes of Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Arwen. A highly trained yellow Labrador trained both to detect electronic devices during search warrants, and also to provide therapeutic support for Survivors in one of the worst types of cases.  The contrast is…

A Tale of Two Labs: How ESD K9s Bandit and Layla Promote Safety and Healing  

From a Small Town in Central Florida to the Mountains of Washoe County, Nevada – Bringing Predators to Justice and Vulnerable Children to Safety This is the tale of two highly trained Labradors who hunt the digital footprints of online predators who traffic and exploit vulnerable children in some of…

The Case of the Altar Server in Ecuador: Authorities Coordinate Raids, Arrest Three Including Church Altar Server

On April 16, 2026, Ecuadorian authorities came together to execute simultaneous, highly coordinated field operations across multiple provinces. The purpose? To confront individuals suspected of creating and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators with CiberPOL, a division of the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP), worked with prosecutors from the Fiscalía…

OPERATION COYOTE 507

 2 Children and 7 Adults Found, Traffickers Targeting Vulnerable Migrants Along the Darién Route Stopped  The Darién is a province in Panama that shares its easternmost border with Colombia. It is home to the Darién Gap, a roadless, 100-mile-long stretch of rugged mountains, dense jungle, and deep swamps that stand like a wall between Central America and its South American neighbors. It is a lawless, extremely dangerous region,…

Building the Barrier Between Children and Online Exploitation:  Our Rescue Trains Teachers at RBIS International School in Bangkok  

Recently at RBIS International School in Bangkok, Thailand, Our Rescue’s Training & Prevention team, in collaboration with the survivor care team conducted a special, in-depth training for teachers and staff. The topic? Helping teachers and staff members prevent, identify, and respond to online child exploitation.    UNICEF’s 2022 Disrupting Harm report in Thailand showed that about 9 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 17…

The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Substance Addiction: A Road to Healing

The realities of human trafficking are often much more complex than they appear on the surface. While it is defined by force, fraud, or coercion, the pathways into exploitation and the ways control is maintained can take many forms. One of the devastating layers of control and coercion traffickers use…

From Nebraska to the Navajo Nation: Our Rescue Connects with Rural Communities Facing Increased Occurrences of Human Trafficking 

During one impactful week in April 2026, the Our Rescue Training and Prevention team brought critical education and awareness programs to two different, rural communities hundreds of miles apart. While one training took place in a small Nebraska town along a major interstate corridor, another focused on preventing child exploitation and bolstering digital safety within Indigenous communities in…

Four Operations in One Week: Our Rescue Helps Police  Expand Rescues and Arrests in Ecuador and Chile  

Trafficking networks, online predators, and child sex offenders have no borders. Their criminal activity reaches across regions and countries without regard for geography. For law enforcement to respond successfully, they cannot be confined by borders, either.  Over the course of one week in October, Our Rescue teamed up with Latin American authorities on four closely coordinated operations. These concentrated “surges” expanded rescue efforts and arrests across Ecuador and Chile. Authorities arrested suspected offenders,…

Operation Success in Spain Leads to 7 Arrests and Helps Free 8 Survivors, Transnational Human Trafficking Network Shut Down  

In April 2026, Our Rescue supported Spanish law enforcement as they planned and prepared for an urgent operation with the goal of dismantling a criminal network that had been trafficking vulnerable women into the country. This was a joint effort involving the National Police of Spain, the National Police of Colombia, and INTERPOL, with Our Rescue teams providing on-the-ground support.  On April 21, police officers executed multiple search and arrest warrants at the…

On the Ground in Thailand: DoPA Honors Our Rescue  for Continued Anti-Trafficking Collaboration  

On April 20, 2026, the Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA) in Bangkok, Thailand, held a ceremony to recognize the work happening on the ground to fight crimes of human trafficking and child exploitation in Thailand. Under the country’s Ministry of Interior, DoPA is tasked with maintaining public safety and national security and overseeing civil registration, local governance, and community-level legal enforcement across the country’s 76 provinces.  At the ceremony, DoPA presented commemorative pins and certificates…

“Paws” for Celebration: Meet Our Rescue’s ESD K9 Class of June 2026!

The month of June is Internet Safety Month, dedicated to raising awareness intended to encourage safe, responsible use of the internet among children, teens, and young adults. This month is also cause – or “Paws” in this case – for celebration as Our Rescue announces its newest Graduating Class of…

Communities Prepare for FIFA World Cup: Our Rescue Helps Host Cities Recognize and Respond to Potential Uptick in Human Trafficking  

As the State of New Jersey prepares to host one of the world’s largest sporting events, partnerships like the one between Our Rescue and the New Jersey Children’s Alliance offer a best practice in proactive prevention and preparedness.   New Jersey is about to welcome one of the world’s most preeminent events: the 2026…

Building Safer Communities Through Education: Our Rescue Partners with Chicago Area Project 

Human trafficking and child exploitation are serious human rights challenges facing communities across the United States. Prevention begins with awareness, and meaningful change happens when communities come together to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe.  In February 2026, Our Rescue had the opportunity to partner with the …

Our Rescue Thailand and Royal Thai Police Join Forces: Teaching Students About the Real Dangers of Online Exploitation 

Every day, children and young people spend more of their lives online, learning, connecting, and exploring the world around them. At the same time, they are exposed to increased risk from predators and trafficking networks lurking in that same “digital ocean” – searching for their next victim. In Thailand specifically, children are not as likely to report their experiences of online exploitation. …

Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Finds 50+ Hidden Devices; Evidence Leads to 100+ Arrests; Delivers Hope to 18 Children Survivors  

Every day, predators use small digital devices like SD cards, cell phones, USB drives, hard drives, and micro-storage devices to hide evidence of child sexual abuse from law enforcement. These devices are easily concealed almost anywhere – inside walls, clothing, furniture, behind electrical outlets, in vehicles, or buried beneath clutter, making them incredibly difficult for investigators to find during searches. …

A Year in Review: Highlights from the Field with the Our Rescue ESD K9 Team  

Exactly one year ago, Our Rescue’s Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 program hit a milestone: a record 11 dogs graduated, embarking on a life with a very important mission – to help protect vulnerable children and bring criminals to justice.  Since June 2025, these K9s have joined over 130 other K9s in helping law enforcement arrest well over 1,300…

Our Rescue Announces New Partnership with Moldovan National Police 

Our Rescue announces new partnership with Moldovan National Police to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. On May 20, 2026, Our Rescue signed a new formal partnership agreement with Moldovan National Police which will focus on strengthening efforts to fight child exploitation and human trafficking in Moldova.   As part of the…

Choosing Her Own Future: May’s Story of Hope  

*Alias used to protect survivor identity.   In Southeast Asia, a young girl named *May was just 17 years old, living in economically vulnerable conditions with her mother and older sister. Her mother worked as a housekeeper earning just enough to meet their most basic needs. May carried a quiet hope for a different future. Like many people her age,…

Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Kaia Helps Police Arrest Multiple Suspects in Vermont Child Exploitation Cases 

Behind closed doors and behind screens, unthinkable acts of child exploitation are committed by predators in ways that can easily be hidden and difficult to trace. Through child sexual abuse material (CSAM), a single upload, a simple message, or a hidden file can put a child in the crosshairs of a predator who is committing unimaginable crimes.  Fortunately, in the state of Vermont, law enforcement has an Electronic Storage Detection…

Two Years Later: Cynthia’s Letter of Hope After Operation Mallorca 

*Alias used to protect survivor identity.  In 2023, Our Rescue supported an operation in Spain to help law enforcement take down a criminal group that was suspected of forcing 24 women from four different countries into forced commercial sexual exploitation. Six days a week, the women worked morning and night and were moved across multiple locations on Mallorca, an island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Our Rescue Joins Peruvian National Police, Dignitaries, to Inaugurate  New Human Trafficking Intelligence Center in Lima 

In August of 2025, Alberto de la Huerta, Regional Director of Our Rescue’s Latin America Team, visited Lima, Peru, to help the Peruvian National Police (PNP) celebrate the inauguration of the Human Trafficking Center (HTC) in Lima’s urban district of Lince. PNP senior leadership and local dignitaries gathered to recognize this important milestone in the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation.  The Peruvian National Police Directorate Against Human Trafficking and…

Our Rescue Support for Ecuador Authorities in CSAM Investigation Leads to Arrest in Quito 

In March of 2026, investigators with CiberPOL, part of the Ecuadorian National Police, followed a CyberTip submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and traced it to a location south of the city. Someone was distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), meaning children were in need of help. Working quickly, with support from Our Rescue, investigators built a careful case in…

Multiple “Operation Digitals” Result in 6 Arrests Across Latin America: Our Rescue Supports Police CSAM Investigations Targeting Online Exploitation 

In Latin America, law enforcement continues to confront the growing spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These horrific cases often begin with a tip online and lead police to discover real sexual abuse involving children. A recent series of four “Operation Guardian” cases, supported by Our Rescue in Ecuador and Chile, highlight how coordinated investigations, digital intelligence, and in-country support are essential in helping…

Two Teenaged Girls Rescued from a Life of Sexual Exploitation:  Our Rescue Aids Law Enforcement in Ecuador’s Fight Against Transnational Criminal Organizations 

In just two days, Ecuadorian National Police (ENP), their Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (UNAT), the Attorney General’s Office (FGE), and members of Our Rescue’s team in Latin America came together to rescue two teenaged girls, ages 14 and 17, from a life of sexual exploitation. Embroiled in extremely dangerous gang activity, caught between a notorious Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) and local rival gangs,…

Urgent CyberTip Triggers Police Operation in Ecuador: 2 Children Rescued, 2 Suspects Arrested

Every day, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) receives thousands of CyberTipline reports that require urgent review because they may involve children in immediate danger. In 2024 alone, staff identified and escalated more than 51,000 reports as urgent or involving imminent risk and…

Vigo County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes First ESD K9: Our Rescue and kNot Today Partnership at Work 

Thanks to a collaborative partnership with Our Rescue and kNot Today, the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office welcomed its first Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 and the community of Terre Haute, Indiana will never be the same.  Do a quick Google search online for “ESD K9 Paddy Indiana” and you’ll see why Vigo County’s newest member of the Sheriff’s Department has been in…

Strengthening Child Exploitation Investigations:  Our Rescue Partners with OSINT Industries 

For over a year, Our Rescue has partnered with OSINT Industries to help law enforcement address human trafficking and child exploitation. This collaboration has now expanded through a formal agreement and ongoing joint efforts to equip investigators with advanced open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools and training that help rescue children and put predators behind bars.  Together, teams have supported law enforcement agencies across Europe, including Romania, Italy, Kosovo, Spain, and Malta. These efforts focus…

ESD K9 Boone in Action: 13 Successful Searches in 2026 So Far 

Every day, children are sexually exploited by predators behind closed doors and evidence of that abuse is deliberately hidden. To fight these crimes, our four-legged heroes work alongside police to help rescue those children and bring them justice.  In 2022, Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Boone graduated from the Jordan Detection K9…

Operation Fenix 86: Two 7-Year-Old Sisters Rescued from Father’s Suspected Sexual Abuse and Exploitation 

In Ecuador, two 7-year-old girls were allegedly being sexually exploited by their father.   In February of 2026, investigators from the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Anti-Trafficking Unit (UNAT) discovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) featuring the two children in sexually explicit photographs that were being distributed to a social media group.   Working alongside the Attorney General’s Office (FGE) and with the support of Our Rescue, ENP UNAT initiated a search and arrest warrant at…

12-Year-Old Rescued in Ecuador, 1 Suspect Arrested

In Ecuador, a 12-year-old child was living under a lie facing sexual exploitation.  An adult had convinced the child that he was family and someone they could trust, someone who had authority in their life. He then used that false identity to gain control and sexually exploit, creating a reality that no child should ever have to navigate.  But investigators with…

Advertised Online. Found in a Hotel: 17-Year-Old Rescued, 5 Suspects Arrested for Human Trafficking 

She was only 17 years old, and she was being sold online for sex.  In September, the Peruvian National Police received a tip that someone was allegedly advertising the sexual services of minors, girls between the ages of 14 and 17, through a website and across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp,…

Our Rescue Supports Indiana CSAM Investigations with Digital Forensics Technology and ESD K9 Buck 

In October 2025, in Pendleton, Indiana, a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led investigators to a 24-year-old man whose online activity raised immediate concern. What began as a small number of flagged files quickly expanded into a digital investigation and subsequent search warrant, where detectives uncovered…

Operation Code Rescue: 48 Hours, 4 Children Rescued, 4 Arrested

Within 48 hours, Our Rescue’s collaboration with the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Anti-Trafficking Unit (UNAT) and the Attorney General’s Office (FGE) in Ecuador resulted in the arrest of 4 individuals suspected of sexually exploiting children. Today, 4 children are now safe from sexual abuse.   In August of 2025, teams came together in Guayaquil to respond to the exploitation of a 14-year-old girl. Investigators…

13-Year-Old Rescued, 3 Arrested in Romania Operation

On March 19, 2026, Romanian authorities carried out a significant operation to rescue a 13-year-old girl living in the deeply unsafe and sexually exploitative environment of trafficking.   The young girl faced vulnerabilities to exploitation on multiple levels. Police reported that she came from a difficult family situation, suffered from multiple disabilities, and limited resources. Additionally, she was in emergency placement due to her family’s instability.   In February…

Prevention in Action: Advancing Online Safety for Youth in Thailand

At Our Rescue, we believe that prevention is the key to protecting children from becoming victims of online threats. That’s why our teams are committed to guiding ongoing efforts to raise awareness and strengthen safeguards in an increasingly digital world.  This year marks the fourth consecutive year of advancing this effort through the “Online…

Operation Esperanza 04

 On January 13, 2026, Our Rescue team in Latin America partnered with the Ecuadorian National Police Anti-Trafficking Unit and the Attorney General’s Office in Operation Esperanza 04 in Quito.   What began as a missing person report led to the safe recovery of a 17-year-old survivor and her infant baby, both of whom had been caught…

Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Mo Helps Police Investigate Kentucky CSAM Case, 1 Arrested 

In Boone County, Kentucky, investigators followed a digital trail that led them to a home in Florence, where online activity linked to a man suspected of sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), previously referred to as child pornography.   After building a careful case, detectives arrived at the suspect’s residence in December and began a thorough search, working carefully through the…

Three Children Rescued, 1 Suspect Arrested in Peru During Our Rescue-Supported CSAM Investigation 

In the Huaycán district of Lima, Peru, one child, the niece of an adult male predator, was being sexually abused and exploited behind closed doors.  In the city of Huancayo, based in the Junin region, miles away, another two minor-age children, family cousins to that same perpetrator, lived separate lives but faced the same abuse at the hands of the same man.  Peruvian investigators would soon connect both.  In late 2025, multiple CyberTipline reports submitted by Google through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children…

Operation Warp: Temple Resident Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation in Thailand 

Stories like this appear far too often. A trusted adult sexually abuses a child. The abuse is recorded. The child sexual abuse material (CSAM), commonly known as child pornography, is stored or shared online. The child waits helplessly for intervention. Sometimes it comes. Sometimes it doesn’t. The pattern repeats across…

Five Arrested, One Child Rescued in Human Trafficking Case in Romania 

On February 5, 2026, Romanian authorities carried out an operation in Constanța that brought a trafficking network to light and put an immediate end to the exploitation of two young women whose lives had been pulled into it.  Investigators report a 15-year-old minor and a 19-year-old vulnerable young woman were manipulated…

Our Rescue Surpasses 150 ESD K9s Deployed with Newest Graduating Class 

Our Rescue recently celebrated another milestone in the fight against child exploitation and human trafficking as nine new Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 teams graduated from the Jordan Detection K9 Program and joined law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada.  With this newest class, the number of…

Operation Overtake Leads to Rescue of 6-Year-Old Child 

On January 14, 2026, investigators in Thailand identified evidence suggesting a 6-year-old child was being sexually exploited and was linked to confirmed child sexual abuse material (CSAM). That evidence triggered an investigation to determine what had happened and how to rescue the child from further harm.  Working alongside Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) Thailand ICAC, law enforcement and Our Rescue teams reviewed digital…

In-Home Nurse for Children with Disabilities Charged with Possessing CSAM 

Predators looking to exploit children often place themselves in positions of trust. Caregivers, service providers, and professionals may have access to children precisely because they are perceived as safe. This reality makes these crimes harder to detect, meaning it is even more important that police have the specialized tools and investigative support they need to find the offenders who intentionally conceal child…

ESD K9 Bandit Aids Police in Major Cases Across Reno, Sparks, and Tahoe 

This year, Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Bandit continued to make an extraordinary impact alongside his handler and law enforcement in Nevada and the Tahoe region. Bandit’s work has supported multiple investigations involving sexual crimes against children and major criminal activity, helping officers locate digital evidence that might otherwise remain hidden.  Across northern…

ESD K9 Bandit Protects Kids in NV

Across northern Nevada, several recent investigations led to significant arrests tied to crimes against children and drug trafficking. Behind the scenes in multiple operations was a four-legged investigator named Bandit.  In Reno, a woman was arrested on charges related to the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after authorities executed a search warrant…

Our Rescue Participates in Survivor Care Center Inauguration in Peru

On January 15, 2026, a powerful door opened in Peru that had never existed before.  At the facilities of the Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) in the Piura Region, Our Rescue and law enforcement officials gathered to inaugurate a Survivor Recovery and Care Facility, built to serve survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. …

Operation Nest: 4-Year-Old Thai Girl Rescued, Father Arrested 

In Thailand, a four-year-old girl was subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse by someone meant to protect her—her father. Cases like this often remain hidden, especially when abuse occurs inside the home, and fear or intimidation keeps the child from speaking out.  In response to a tip, local authorities launched Operation Nest, an operation led by Thailand Internet Crimes…

Honoring a Career of Dedication: Detective Pete Deates and K9 Iris 

For the past several years in Kenosha, when search warrants were executed in cases involving digital exploitation, two partners entered the scene together: Detective Pete Deates and Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Iris.  One carried decades of investigative experience. The other carried a nose trained to find what offenders try to hide.  Together, they represent the final chapter of a 23-year career defined by…

Transnational Criminal Network Dismantled in Greece with Our Rescue and Partner Support 

Since at least November 2023, a transnational criminal organization was exploiting vulnerable women from Latin America, Europe, and Africa. The group lured the women through deception and debt bondage, controlling them through housing, and profiting from their sexual exploitation by managing five brothels and advertising services online. In addition to…

ESD K9 Harrison Recognized at 15th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards 

Each year, the American Humane Society honors extraordinary dogs across the United States through the Hero Dog Awards, a nationwide competition and fundraising event. This year, the awards banquet was held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, attended by approximately 350 people, including supporters, families, previous winners, and donors.   Among the honorees was Our Rescue-sponsored…

2 Search Warrants in 2 Cities: What We Saw During a Riverside ICAC Ride-Along 

In the early hours of a recent ride-along with the Riverside County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), also known as the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team (RCCET), detectives executed two search warrants in two different cities. Both investigations involved the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material…

5 Arrested: Police Crack Down on Exploitation in Greece with Our Rescue Support 

In Athens, organized crime networks were allegedly promoting foreign women into prostitution, by profession and for profit, by exploiting their income inside establishments operating as “strip shows.” Intelligence gathered by authorities indicated that the individuals were being controlled and profited from under conditions consistent with human trafficking. This prompted a coordinated law enforcement response.  In the early morning hours of Friday, December 19,…

Operation Stingray: 34-Year-Old Chilean Security Guard Arrested for CSAM 

In Chile, a 34-year-old security guard was suspected of using online spaces to target and exploit children, leveraging access to social media to harass and coerce minors into producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).   Following the discovery of these alleged crimes, Chile’s Investigative Police (Policía de Investigaciones de Chile, PDI) launched Operation Mantarraya with support from Our Rescue to identify and apprehend the…

ESD K9 Estie Supports Major ICAC Operation in Mobile County 

When the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force launched Operation Frost Byte in December 2025, Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Estie played a critical role in supporting investigators as they executed search warrants connected to multiple child exploitation cases.  Estie is an Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9, specially trained…

9-Year-Old Girl Rescued During Operation Hope in Chile

In Chile, a nine-year-old girl was identified in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files during a police investigation, setting in motion a coordinated police response in Santiago’s Metropolitan Region to rescue her. On November 2025, the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI) launched Operation Hope with coordinated support from the Our Rescue…

Building a New Future: Ploy’s Story of Hope

**Alias used to protect survivor’s identity.   At just 15 years old,**Ploy, a young girl from rural Northeast Thailand, left school to help support her grandmother after years of financial hardship. Raised by her grandmother after her parents separated, Ploy felt a deep responsibility from a young age to help provide for her household.  An older acquaintance from her village…

Hidden Devices, Critical Evidence: How K9 Arwen Supports Child Exploitation Investigations 

When investigators with the Oklahoma ICAC Task Force enter a search scene, time matters. Evidence can be hidden inside walls, tucked into furniture, concealed in vehicles, or deliberately disguised to avoid detection. In these moments, human search alone isn’t always enough. That’s where K9 Arwen comes in.  Arwen is an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 sponsored…

Operation in Malta: 1 Suspect Arrested and 14 Devices Seized in CSAM Investigation 

During the week of December 8, 2025, Our Rescue supported the Malta Police Force Cyber Crime Unit as they carried out an operation targeting perpetrators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), following referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).  The operation focused on identifying and disrupting online exploitation activity. As part of…

Our Rescue Partners with DHS Blue Campaign for Human Trafficking Prevention Month 

January is recognized as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to strengthen awareness, expand education, and encourage collective action to address human trafficking before it occurs. This month, Our Rescue is joining the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign as an official partner, aligning efforts to support prevention-focused,…

Coordinated Operations Across Multiple States Advance Efforts to Battle Sex Trafficking  

On Giving Tuesday, our community of donors stepped up to help make something critical possible: coordinated Interstate Justice Coalition (IJC) operations designed to strengthen cross-jurisdictional collaboration and improve survivor-centered response. IJC is a unique partnership comprised of Our Rescue, Skull Games Solutions, We Fight Monsters, and Operation Light Shine that unifies each organization’s specialized capabilities to support law enforcement, survivor care agencies, and communities within the United States in the…

Operation Future: A Coordinated Effort to Protect Children in Bangkok 

Before sunrise on November 19, 2025, a team of law enforcement personnel moved through a residence in Bangkok to arrest a man suspected of possessing and distributing thousands of images and videos showing real children being sexually abused and circulating them online. Authorities knew they needed to act quickly to stop it and protect the real children…

ESD K9 Maui Assists Law Enforcement in Three Child Exploitation Investigations in Just One Month 

In the summer of 2025, multiple complex investigations involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and hidden surveillance devices unfolded across Wisconsin. Each case involved diligent investigative work and interagency cooperation, including crucial support from Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Maui working alongside local and federal partners.  Madison Rental Home Hidden Camera Investigation  In late July 2025, police in Madison, Wisconsin…

2025 Year in Review: A Year of Strengthened Partnerships, Strategic Operations, and Hope 

**The data showcased here represents partial-year figures and should be considered preliminary. Final totals will be confirmed and released in the 2025 Annual Report.  As we begin reflecting on 2025, one message stands out across every region and every program: lasting change happens when organizations and partners link arms and move together.   This year, Our…

Operation El Pollito: Four Minors Rescued from Sexual Exploitation in Southern Lima 

Before dawn in southern Lima, coordinated teams moved quietly through the districts. Buses carrying dozens of Peruvian National Police officers arrived at their staging points for a critical operation, with logistical support provided by Our Rescue. What unfolded over the next several hours would interrupt an ongoing exploitation scheme linked to a local hotel—one in…

Operation Barber: 1 Arrested, 9-Year-Old Rescued in Child Exploitation Case 

In Thailand, a 24-year-old man was allegedly involved in sexual assault of a 9-year-old child and the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). To address this, a coordinated effort called Operation Barber was launched in collaboration with Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau’s Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (CCIB TICAC), Our Rescue, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) officials, and local…

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, with…

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 three children…

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 vehicles accounted…

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 the investigation…

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 Unit (UNAT) and…

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 to…

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 exploited.   Throughout…

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…

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…

Our Rescue LATAM Participates in the 8th Cybersecurity Seminar Organized by the Chilean Investigative Police 

In October 2025, the Our Rescue LATAM team in Chile, participated in the 8th International Cybersecurity Seminar organized by the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI).   The event brought together experts and representatives from the academic, law enforcement, military, technological, and private sectors to address current challenges in cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime in Chile and around the world.   During both days,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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). …

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…

Our Rescue Announces the “ICAC CONNECT” Program, Designed to Equip Law Enforcement in the Fight Against  Sex Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation    

Minneapolis, MN — June 23, 2025 — Our Rescue formally announces the launch of the first-ever program called “ICAC Connect,” designed to support North American Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces by providing advanced investigative tools, data analytics, ICAC Officer Training Scholarships, and community-driven funding to combat online child exploitation, particularly CSAM (child sexual abuse…

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…

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…

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…

Two Provinces. One Day. A Race to Rescue Children in Ecuador 

6-year-old girl and 8-year-old brother rescued, half-brother arrested  At the beginning of the year, Ecuadorian authorities were handed a disturbing lead: a thumb drive found abandoned on a bus near the Amazon region, which contained child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The team urgently needed to locate the survivors and put…

48 Hours in Indonesia – Part 1

 First two operations in Indonesia of 2025 strike deep into the heart of digital trafficking networks – 2 suspects arrested.   Part 1: Operation Borneo Bound  Deep in an isolated region of South Kalimantan, one man was quietly distributing images that should never exist. Behind the closed doors of his…

From Prosecution to Urgent Survivor Care: 12-Year-Old Boy Rescued in Peru 

After three years of sexual abuse, a twelve-year-old Peruvian boy had completely withdrawn from his regular routine. Sinking into a deep depression, he rarely left the house and stopped attending school.   The perpetrator? A twenty-seven-year-old man who had befriended the boys’ family after he began working construction in the rural…

From Coast to Coast: Our Rescue Supports Nationwide Stand Against Human Trafficking 

Across the United States, human trafficking doesn’t always happen in the shadows. Often, it’s woven into the fabric of everyday life.  In neighborhoods, in businesses that seem ordinary, in places people pass by every day without a second thought. Illicit massage businesses (IMBs) are one of the most common covers…

A Quiet Room, a Hidden Crime — and the Team That Brought It to Light 

In a quiet town in Central Thailand, a young boy was suffering in silence.  He was just 15 years old — a student, a son, a child whose life should have been filled with friends, school, and the promise of the future. Instead, someone he trusted used their position of…

Our Rescue Peru and Ecuador Teams Reach Across Borders to Help in Child Trafficking Case 

It wasn’t long after a fourteen-year-old Peruvian girl didn’t return home from the market that her family’s fears were confirmed: she had been kidnapped and trafficked. The Peruvian National Police began an investigation and identified her trafficker as a Peruvian national with a history of sexually abusing children. The abuser…

Our Rescue Supports First Operation in Romania

Authorities Dismantle Trafficking Operation in Eastern Europe, Rescue Two Survivors   In Romania, a 57-year-old man allegedly spent five years trafficking two women in Eastern Europe and forcing them into being sexually exploited for his profit.  According to Romanian authorities, in 2020 he began targeting women who came from at-risk situations,…

Electronic Storage Detection K9s Sniff Out CSAM, Leading to Arrests in Ecuador 

During a string of recent successful operations in Ecuador to arrest perpetrators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one of the most important partners was on scene to help secure justice. Along with provincial and national police, the State Attorney General and even U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, specially trained Our…

Our Rescue and We Fight Monsters partner to build “Hope House” in Memphis, TN

Memphis, TN (May 22, 2025) – In a united effort to support survivors of sex trafficking in the U.S., Our Rescue and We Fight Monsters have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to renovate and complete construction of a new “Hope House” – a Recovery House for Survivors.

Our Rescue Donation Supports Carteret County Sheriff’s Office in Child Exploitation Cases 

At Our Rescue, we know that the right tools can make all the difference in stopping child predators. That’s why we provide essential technology and training to law enforcement agencies around the world—including here in the U.S. In Carteret County, North Carolina, equipment donated by Our Rescue recently played a…

Two-Decade Reign of Abuse Ends with Life Sentence for Child Predator 

ESD K9 Heroes Help Bring Justice in Iowa Child Exploitation Case  For over 20 years, a man named Carl Markley used fraud and coercion to get dozens of teens, mostly boys, to engage in sex acts. As a nurse practitioner and business owner in Ames, Iowa, Markley used his position…

Ghana Operation Uncovers Massive Cyber Trafficking Network 

In the early morning of April 17, 2024, Our Rescue Ghana joined Ghanaian authorities in one of the largest anti-trafficking and cybercrime operations in the nation’s history. Over 200 survivors—mostly young men and boys—were rescued from 22 locations across an 80-unit housing estate, many of whom had been lured from…

National Police Week 2025 and Our Rescue’s Partnership with Law Enforcement

During National Police Week 2025, law enforcement officers across the United States will gather in Washington, D.C. to honor fallen heroes on the frontlines. The memorial march and planned events from May 11-17 will unite police survivors and active-duty officers in a major event that transcends remembrance. This year's gathering holds special significance as Our Rescue celebrates unprecedented achievements in supporting law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Multi-Country Operation Dismantles Pedophile Platform: Bulgarian Cybercrime Directorate Helps Protect 39 Children

In March, Bulgarian law enforcement delivered a powerful blow to online child exploitationthrough a Europol-supported global crackdown on a major child sexual abuse material(CSAM) platform, Kidflix. With nearly two million users, Kidflix has become one of thelargest known platforms for CSAM. The General Directorate Combating Organized Crime’s (GDCOC) Cybercrime Directorateplayed…

No Expiration for Justice: Thai Authorities and Our Rescue Take Down Repeat CSAM Offender 

Nearly ten years after a Thai man filmed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a nine-year-old boy, he was still distributing the video online. CSAM has no expiration date—and neither did his crimes. Previously arrested, jailed, and then released after distributing similar material, he continued sharing the video of the…

Our Rescue Joins Rotary VTT Team in Australia to Combat Sex Trafficking: A Global Effort for Change 

In March 2025, member of the Our Rescue Training & Prevention team embarked on a transformative month-long journey to Western Australia, invited by Rotary District 5300 as part of Rotary International’s Vocational Training Team (VTT) program. This initiative, backed by a Rotary Foundation grant, allows professionals from around the world…

Our Rescue Donates Digital Forensic Device and Helps Stop Abuse of Minors  

For a 26-year-old man from Middletown, New York, TikTok wasn’t an entertainment site. It was a hunting ground and a place to meet girls under the age of 18. Even though he knew the explicit texts and FaceTime calls he instigated with a 15-year-old were illegal, that didn’t stop him…

Mission Update: Survivor from First Our Rescue Operation in Europe Reclaims Future with New Business 

**In this story, the survivor’s name has been changed to protect her identity.  Two years ago, Our Rescue worked alongside authorities to help dismantle an international trafficking ring preying on vulnerable women from Latin America and Africa. The traffickers lured them to Greece with false promises…

Redefining the Future: A Survivor’s Path to Entrepreneurship 

**In this story, the survivor’s name has been changed to protect her identity.  Tsehay thought the opportunity to go to Lebanon and become a domestic worker would be a good way to provide for herself and her family.   Instead, Tsehay suffered traumatic abuse at the hands of her employers,…

Operation Amanecer III: Our Rescue Assists in the Arrest of Children’s Music Teacher in Ecuador After a Decade on the Run  

A man in Latin America was wanted on charges of rape of minors and the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) since 2014. The suspected pedophile worked as a children’s music teacher, taking advantage of his trusted position with students to sexually exploit them. Despite his crimes and the…

Wyoming Man Faces 548 Years in Prison for Creating and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material of 16-Year-Old Girl 

A 34-year-old Wyoming man faces 548 years in prison if he’s convicted of all the charges for the manufacturing, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) following his arrest.   The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,…

Our Rescue Partners with Peruvian Authorities to Dismantle Sex Trafficking Network 

70 survivors identified and 7 suspects arrested in collaborative operation   The Peruvian town of Llacuabamba, nestled in the rugged Andean mountains, is far from any typical tourist route. Located a grueling 15-hour drive from the coastal city of Trujillo, it is separated by miles of barren terrain and challenging mountain…

Our Rescue and Thai Authorities Rescue 12-Year-Old Boy and Dismantle Illicit Chat Group  

An informant for the Thailand Internet Crime Against Children (TICAC) program thought the group on the chat app seemed suspicious. His instincts were correct. For 150 Thai Baht, equivalent to $4.45, anyone could purchase a lifetime membership to the group and get access to a trove of Child Sexual Abuse…

A Father’s Love Leads to Criminal Arrests and the Rescue of Eight Trafficking Survivors in Peru 

In January 2024, a desperate father pleaded with authorities in Peru to help him find and rescue his 17-year-old daughter, who had been kidnapped by a Venezuelan Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) and trafficked to a southern Peruvian coastal town for sexual exploitation.   To help with this lifesaving mission, the Peruvian…

Our Rescue Partners with Police in Greece to Bust Human Trafficking Ring 

Thirteen women from Latin America and Eastern Europe arrived in Greece with dreams of a better future. They believed they had secured stable jobs, only to have their passports ripped from their hands and their identities stripped away. Trapped in a nightmare, their captors forced them into sex work under…

Congratulations to the K9 Class of Spring 2025! 

We are excited to announce the graduation of eight new Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s from the Jordan Detection K9 training program! These incredible dogs completed their training on Friday, March 14, and are being placed in police departments across the country and Canada to help fight child exploitation. Our…

Lives on the Line: The Urgent Need for More Survivor Shelters Near Nepal and India Border 

Lives on the Line: The Urgent Need for More Survivor Shelter Near Nepal and India Border  Charimaya Tamang was just 16-years-old when her life and dreams were violently disrupted, as traffickers forced her across the border from Nepal to India.  For nearly two years, she endured unimaginable abuse, suffering, and…

Our Rescue and Thailand Police Rescue Six-year-old Girl from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation by Family Member  

    MINNEAPOLIS (March, 12) – Our Rescue, a global non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to combating sex trafficking and child exploitation, just completed a successful mission with Thailand’s Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Task Force to arrest a familial predator and remove a six-year-old girl who was…

Our Rescue Works with Thailand ICAC to Rescue Six-Year-Old Girl 

On February 19, a coordinated effort between Our Rescue and Thailand’s Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Task Force led to the successful rescue of a six-year-old girl and the arrest of the family member who was abusing her.   The Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Task Force, supported by the…

Our Rescue Expands Partnership with Shakti Samuha to Open New Shelter for Survivors of Sex Trafficking in Nepal  

Anti-trafficking Allies and Supporters Invited to Help Fund this Critical Housing and Survivor Care Initiative  MINNEAPOLIS (February 28, 2025) – Our Rescue, a global non-governmental organization dedicated to combating sex trafficking and child exploitation, is partnering with Shakti Samuha, an anti-human trafficking organization in Nepal, to open…

Our Rescue Helps Strengthen Malta’s Fight Against Human Trafficking 

In February, Our Rescue’s Training & Prevention, Survivor Care, and Rescue Operations teams traveled to Malta—a beautiful island country on the Mediterranean Sea–with a shared mission: empower those on the front lines of justice.   Malta is on the Tier 2 Watchlist of the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons…

Help Fund a Shelter in Nepal

For over six years, Our Rescue has partnered with Shakti Samuha, a pioneering survivor-led organization established in 1996. Shakti Samuha is dedicated to providing comprehensive support for survivors of human trafficking, including shelter, education, vocational training, and legal aid. In addition, the organization works closely with law enforcement to combat…

Operation in Greece Dismantles Major Human Trafficking Network  

In a significant step against sex trafficking, Greek authorities, with support from Our Rescue and nonprofit A21, dismantled a criminal trafficking organization in December of 2024.   The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime led the investigation, uncovering a network that had been operating since 2019. The traffickers targeted vulnerable women abroad,…

Our Rescue ESD K9 Cruzer Uncovers Key Evidence in Federal Child Sexual Abuse Material Case  

Jesse Blaine, 42, of Harlan, Iowa, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Cruzer and his handler helped search his home, finding hidden electronic devices containing child sexual abuse material.   The investigation began with a CyberTip from the National Center…

Our Rescue-Supported Operation in Ghana Results in 19 Rescues, Including 8 Minors 

In November of 2024, Our Rescue proudly collaborated with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service to support a crucial rescue operation.  The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit initiated the operation, following an investigation that found children had been trafficked from Nigeria into Ghana and then forced into illicit cyber…

When Survivors Speak: The Light in the Darkness of Human Trafficking

Multi-National Rescue Operation in Bangkok: Eight Survivors Rescued, Three Offenders Arrested 

In December 2024, eight survivors of sex trafficking were rescued by authorities in a coordinated operation in Bangkok, Thailand. The survivors included seven Tanzanian women, aged 22-36, and one Kenyan woman. Additionally, the operation resulted in the arrests of three offenders connected to a transnational criminal organization.  Arrested Offenders:  49-year-old…

Suspect Arrested in Panama for Sexual Crimes Against a Minor 

This month, the DIJ Judicial Police Sexual Crimes Unit in Panama, supported by the Our Rescue team, successfully apprehended an adult male suspect for the sexual exploitation of a minor. The suspect, a cousin of the minor, had been allegedly abusing the fifteen-year-old girl for a period of two months.

12-year-old survivor in Latin America walks again

Alejandro is a 12-year-old boy in Latin America who was born with a severe disability and epilepsy, facing unimaginable challenges from the start. His condition from birth left him with limited mobility, and his early years were marked by both physical and emotional abuse. Devastatingly, Alejandro was also trafficked, which…

Five New ESD K9s Graduate, Marking 110 Heroes in the Fight Against Child Exploitation

We are excited to announce that five new K9s have completed their specialized Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) training this month. These incredible dogs graduated from the program on November 15, bringing the total number of Our Rescue sponsored ESD K9s worldwide to 110. This milestone was made possible through the…

Operation Drunken 

A Southeast Asian woman is believed to have sexually exploited her 17-year-old transgender niece for nearly a month, using her karaoke bar and massage parlor businesses as fronts to carry out the exploitation.  The Thailand Royal Police’s Anti-Trafficking in Person’s Sub-Division 5 (ATPD) found out about the alleged exploitation first.

OUR Rescue Supports Argentina’s Largest Operation Targeting Online Child Exploitation Networks 

Multi-city, multi-agency effort leads to 116 arrests and 70 survivors identified  SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 18, 2024 – On Nov. 12, 2024, the Buenos Aires Public Prosecutor’s Office, OUR Rescue and several other international law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations carried out “Operation Childhood Protection IV” – the Argentina’s largest…

OUR Rescue Supports International Multi-Agency Operation to Take Down Spanish Sex Traffickers

Surprise Sting Yields 18 Arrests and 18 Victim Rescues [Salt Lake City, UT] – November 7, 2024 – In October of 2024, OUR Rescue participated inOperation PRIOR, a multi-agency effort alongside the Spanish Policia Nacional (SNP), thePolicía Nacional de Colombia, INTERPOL, and the Spanish Guardia Civil. OUR Rescue wason the…

Bulgarian Mobile Center Project: Empowering At-Risk Communities through Partnership and Innovation

In a remote Roma neighborhood in Bulgaria, a mobile education center is bringing hope and knowledge to children who once lived in the shadow of exploitation. This innovative project is the result of a unique collaboration between OUR Rescue and Foundation for Hope, a local NGO that has been tirelessly…

OUR Rescue Partners with Utah Navajo Health System to Empower Indigenous Communities and Combat Sexual Exploitation

From left to right: Ophelia Holiday (Sexual Assault Prevention Specialist for UNHS), June Haskell (OUR Rescue Director of Survivor Engagement), Allison Smith (OUR Rescue Senior Director of Education), and Thomasina Holly (Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for UNHS).

Operation Big Hat

Officials in Asia reported that a woman was using her power as the owner of a karaoke bar to exploit two teenage girls, selling them for sex. Local police contacted OUR Rescue to request that we assist their investigative efforts. At that point, officials knew the bar was recruiting females…

Foxwynd Foundation Supports OUR Rescue with $75K Grant to Expand ESD K9 Program and Fight Sex Trafficking 

The grant will provide vital support to law enforcement in the fight against sex trafficking and child exploitation  Salt Lake City, Utah – October 7, 2024 – OUR Rescue, a global nonprofit on a mission to end sex trafficking and child exploitation worldwide, today announced a transformative $75,000 grant provided…

Our Rescue Partners with Unbound Now in North Texas

Unbound Now is a global organization with a mission to end human trafficking through prevention, professional training, and survivor advocacy. With a presence across Texas, Louisiana, and several other cities worldwide, Unbound Now is committed to fostering collaboration between communities, law enforcement, and government agencies to create…

Support Survivors: Help Fill Amazon Wish Lists

We need your help to provide school supplies and basic needs to survivors and individuals at risk of human trafficking! By contributing in-kind donations of these items, you can make a direct impact and provide much-needed support.

Charity Making a Difference in the Bluegrass State

Charity, one of the 100 Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s supported by OUR Rescue, has been working with the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Special Victims Unit of the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General since March. In just a few months on the job, the two-year-old Labrador Retriever has…

Reflections from Indonesia Survivor Care

At OUR Rescue, we are deeply committed to not only ensuring rescues and arrests but to also helping secure justice for survivors. In early July, an OUR Rescue Survivor Care manager was waiting to testify as an expert witness for a baby trafficking case in Jakarta, Indonesia. We are grateful…

Operation Caged Birds

In the Caribbean, a sex trafficking investigation began after the Dominican Consulate received details that a woman was allegedly being held against her will and sex trafficked at an apartment by a known sex trafficking ring. AMERIPOL Colombia and the Dominican National Police (DNP) then got involved. At the request…

ESD K9 Tera

Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Tera is helping the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois apprehend predators. Earlier this year, she found key evidence in a case that began when a messaging app detected multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files on its platform. Authorities identified 24-year-old Jared Honegger as the…

OUR Rescue Attends Global NCOSE Summit in Washington, D.C.

OUR Rescue CEO Tammy Lee, and members of the team were honored to participate in the 2024 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation (CESE) Global Summit, hosted by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) in Washington, D.C.  This event gathers leading voices from around the world to address the pervasive…

K9 Iris Helping Keep Wisconsin Safe

Iris, an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9, is hard at work in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The 6-year-old Labrador Retriever has helped law enforcement in three separate cases since late May, leading to multiple arrests. In a county neighboring Kenosha, an investigator discovered that Ryan St. John, 46, shared and distributed child…

Operation Pakkapao

In a beach town, a woman sexually exploited two teenage girls at the karaoke bar she owned, according to multiple agencies in Asia.  OUR Rescue investigators used open-source intelligence to locate the karaoke bar after suspecting it of employing and exploiting minors. With permission from local authorities, we then visited…

Operation Beacon of Light

A South American man allegedly produced and distributed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of a 14-year-old. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline was the first to hear of this potential crime. With it being within their jurisdiction, the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) got involved. Unidad Contra La…

Operation Amazon

In a tribe in the Amazon rainforest, a father and two uncles were allegedly sexually abusing six children. The Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) found out about the possible crimes in March 2024 when the children’s mother came forward to authorities. The ENP’s human trafficking unit then planned a rescue operation.

International Law Enforcement Collaboration Leads to Arrest of Pediatrician in Ecuador for Child Sexual Exploitation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Utah-based OUR Rescue provided critical training, cyber tools, and K9 support to aid in arrest Quito, Ecuador – July 12, 2024 – On July 10, in partnership with teams from OUR Rescue and U.S. law enforcement, Ecuadorian authorities successfully apprehended a well-known pediatrician on charges of…

June ESD K9 Graduations

Thanks to funding from OUR Rescue donors, five Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s graduated from training on June 28.

Operation Mulley

Two women were allegedly sexually exploiting a 17-year-old in Thailand for nearly two months, according to authorities. Knowing the minor had a young daughter that she was responsible for, the women reportedly took advantage of her financial vulnerability. An investigation into potential criminal activity began after local law enforcement found…

K9 Jib Helps Convict Predator

On May 30, a North Dakota judge sentenced predator Nicholas Morgan-Derosier to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to seven criminal charges tied to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Jib, an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 supported by OUR Rescue, helped the Grand Forks…

Nala & the Angry Bird

The following is a firsthand account from Detective Gill of the Seattle Police Department. I have been a Seattle Police Officer for 17 years. It was a natural choice for me; I’ve always had a strong desire to help people in need. Joining the ICAC unit in 2015 felt like…

Bulgarian Border Police Putting Donations to Use

Over the last 12 months, the Bulgarian Border Police (BBP) have investigated 31 cases of human trafficking and assisted numerous individuals using technical equipment and vehicles that were donated by OUR Rescue. So far, 14 of the cases have been presented for prosecution, while investigations are ongoing in nine others.

Operation RIOMAR

In Spain, officials say that 14 women were being forced into commercial sex work after suspected traffickers used elderly caregiver job offers to lure the women to the country.  Traffickers reportedly forced the women to be available 24 hours a day and live in extremely unsanitary conditions. When they were…

Operation Wonky

A bar owner was reportedly offering free accommodations, water, and electricity to attract new employees. After placing himself in a position of increased power, he reportedly encouraged six vulnerable hires to engage in sex work. Of these females, five were minors.   The vigilant OUR Rescue team in Asia used information…

ESD K9 Boone

An Illinois man is alleged to have secretly recorded his stepdaughter and other family members by using a camera that was disguised as a screw. Police say Timothy Mol, 45, placed the camera in a switch plate – the small piece of plastic that surrounds a light switch – on…

Operation Los Cabineros

In Peru, it has been reported that two men worked together to create and distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) of boys between 8-10 years old.  One of the suspects operated an internet center on the first floor of his home. With video games available to be played, this gave…

Operation Snow White

In Thailand, a woman allegedly began trafficking a 13-year-old on her first day of work at a karaoke bar. For six days, the minor was reportedly exploited to provide business clients with the specific sexual services they desired. OUR Rescue operators became suspicious of criminal activity at the bar and…

Survivor Update: Flora Graduates High School

Flora was trafficked when she was 11 years old by a local gang in her hometown that was run by a judge. This was her life for two years before O.U.R. intervened.

International Sex Trafficking Ring Dismantled – 51 Survivors Freed!

In a joint effort by the Hellenic Police, the Spanish National Police, INTERPOL, Our Rescue, A21, and Homeland Security Investigations, 22 individuals were apprehended.

Voices of Freedom

We stand with survivors of human trafficking and exploitation in their healing journey. With your support, we can continue to provide survivors with invaluable tools they need to heal and thrive.

Survivor Story: Susie

Susie supported herself financially by braiding hair. She went door to door selling her services to locals in her hometown in East Africa. She had been toiling away in her small hometown, feeling trapped by circumstances that she couldn’t control. That’s when a chance encounter with a European man changed…

How Our Rescue Went Undercover In One Of The Largest Anti-Trafficking Operations In Dominican Republic History

Responding to a request for assistance from the Dominican government’s Specialized Anti-Trafficking Police (PETT), O.U.R. Operators went undercover to confirm the existence of multiple transnational trafficking rings. These networks were reportedly dedicated to recruiting young women, between 15-23 years of age, to be sexually exploited for financial gain.

Q&A with Undercover Idaho Police Officer

Once Sgt. Kuoha realized how common these sorts of crimes and online enticement were, even in his small jurisdiction, he and his team were determined to teach the predators a lesson.

How Our Rescue and Jordan Detection K9 Are Putting ESD K9s Across the Nation

What started with one dog has grown into a nationwide task force of K9s, all helping law enforcement fight against human trafficking and child exploitation.

Nine-Year-Old “Hailey,” Trafficked by Her Neighbor, Returns Home with a New Awareness of Her Rights

“Hailey,” age 9, was swimming in her local community pool down the street from her home in South America when her neighbor, an adult male, approached her.

The Boy in the Green Shirt

The “Boy in the Green Shirt” was an investigation that started in Southeast Asia after the police in another country found photos of an unidentified young boy in a green shirt being sexually assaulted. The offender had unique, identifiable physical traits, so local police were able to quickly identify a citizen with matching traits to this alleged offender...

Survivor Story: “I am free”

The O.U.R. Aftercare team was invited to Central America to visit an aftercare home, which was brought to their attention by a mutual friend and lawyer who is contracted there. She relayed to the team about the survivors who she had gotten to know and love and invited the group to come see for themselves.

7-Year-Old “Little Wonder Woman” Helps Save Two More Survivors

When the identity of 7-year-old Sabrina was verified from an online child exploitation video, O.U.R. and law enforcement quickly made plans to arrest the traffickers and remove her from harm’s way.