Texas Child Exploitation Sting: 109 Rescued, 244 Arrested
Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long investigation involving 70 Texas law enforcement agencies, resulted in the arrest of 244 individuals on charges related to child sex trafficking and pornography. The operation rescued 109 children, many of whom were previously unidentified victims. Authorities seized terabytes of child sexual abuse material and highlighted the increasing use of technology, including online gaming and social media, by offenders to exploit children. The operation’s success underscores the pervasive nature of this crime and the need for increased parental awareness and monitoring of children’s online activity.