70 Missing Children Recovered in Midland/Odessa and Surrounding Areas

Homeland Security and several other agencies banded together to find 70 children that were missing here in West Texas.

According to NewsWest 9, "Operation Lost Souls" ran a recovery effort from late April to mid-May in Midland, Ector, El Paso, and Tom Green Counties in West Texas and recovered 70 missing children.

The children were mostly runaways and ranged in age from 10 to 17, some were victims of physical and sexual abuse along with sex trafficking.

Homeland Security Investigations also said the operation has uncovered other leads the agency will be looking into.

The agencies that aided Homeland Security Investigations included Midland and Ector County Sherriffs offices, Harmony Home, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshalls, and the FBI.

“Operation Lost Souls exemplifies Homeland Security Investigations’ commitment to protecting the public from crimes of victimization. In this case, we are looking out for our children - our community’s most precious resource,” Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Deputy Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho said in a press release.

No other information will be released at this time since the investigation involves minors.

The cities of Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, and El Paso are continuing to aid in any leads involved with their jurisdictions on further minors that may be involved in sex trafficking or abuse not yet apprehended in the first operation.

The operation will continue until all investigations have led to the apprehension of children involved in abuse or human trafficking of any kind.

If you have any information regarding someone involved in sex trafficking or human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.