Federal and local authorities have rescued more than 30 missing children and uncovered multiple human trafficking operations targeting vulnerable youth in a massive law enforcement sweep across Texas. The coordinated effort, known as Operation Lightning Bug, was centered in San Antonio and involved multiple agencies working together to locate missing juveniles and dismantle trafficking networks.
More than 30 missing children rescued in Texas human trafficking crackdown
Coordinated Effort Across Texas
The operation brought together teams from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) out of San Antonio, Del Rio, Midland, and Pecos, along with several specialized units of the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) — including the Missing Persons Unit, Special Victims Unit, and Street Crimes Unit. Together, they combed through state and national databases to identify at-risk juveniles and coordinate recovery missions.
The results were significant:
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Three arrests for harboring runaways
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Nine felony warrants executed
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Six sex trafficking survivors rescued and connected to support services
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Five new trafficking investigations opened
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More than 30 missing juveniles located
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120 additional juveniles voluntarily returned home
Each child was interviewed by SAPD’s Special Victims Unit to determine if they had been exploited, with survivors referred to agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services for long-term care and recovery support.
