1 Child Rescued, Dozens Arrested In OK FBI Sex Trafficking Investigation

A crackdown on human trafficking saved one Oklahoma child from a sex trade operation.

The FBI announced Tuesday, Operation Cross Country resulted in hundreds of sex traffickers arrested nationwide.

They said agents arrested eight pimps, 17 prostitutes and recovered one child victim here in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Oklahoma City Police Department joined FBI agents in stings and undercover operations.

Operation Cross Country takes place every year; the goal is to save children from the sex trade.

The FBI said, because of our highways, Oklahoma is especially at risk.

Special agent Kathryn Peterson said, "Because we are the crossroads of many interstate highways, we're very vulnerable to this sex trafficking throughout our state - both trafficking children through our state and also within our state."

Operation Cross Country saved one 17 year old in Oklahoma from sex trafficking.

The FBI said traffickers aren't only going after teens, but young children as well.

"A lot of the worst of the worst, the individuals are trafficking not teenagers, but trafficking 5 year olds, 10 year olds. They're going dark. They're using the dark web, they're using encryption," Peterson said.

Operation Cross Country also resulted in the arrest of an Oklahoma City police officer.

10/17/2016 Related Story: Prostitution Sting Leads To OKC Police Officer's Arrest

Lieutenant Alexander Edwards faces several charges after his department said he tried to meet a woman posting online ads to exchange sex for money.

The FBI cautions parents to monitor children's internet activity carefully.

Peterson said, "As parents, we, and we're all aware already, but we cannot stop being vigilant about our children's internet activity."

The FBI said the Oklahoma investigation is ongoing and more arrests could be made.