70 missing children recovered from weeks-long multi-county operations

EL PASO, TX - Multiple operations conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Department of Homeland Security have brought home 70 missing children.

DPS and HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) announced on May 25, Missing Children's Day, that 3 operations ran from the end of April through mid-May in El Paso, Midland, Ector and Tom Green counties. 70 victims were found and recovered.

Officials say that the majority of the victims were subjected to human trafficking, as well as sexual and physical abuse. Victims and their families were provided with counseling and various other victim services upon their return.

These operations were run as a part of Operation Lost Souls, which the Homeland Security Investigations says is committed to "protecting the public from crimes of victimization."

HSI El Paso deputy special agent-in-charge Taekuk Cho continued that "we are looking out for our children - our most precious resource."

DPS says that more information has been produced as a part of these operations, but none of it has been released due to the fact that the information is still being actively investigated.