84 children, 141 adult victims recovered in sex trafficking crackdown

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- More than 80 children were recovered in a child sex trafficking crackdown by the FBI, the US Department of Justice announced Monday. 

Authorities say agents found 84 victims during a two-week nationwide initiative this month.

The average age of the children recovered is around 15-and-a-half years old. The youngest victim is just 11. 

"Operation Cross Country" also located 37 actively missing children and 141 adult victims of human trafficking. 

"Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes the FBI encounters,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Unfortunately, such crimes—against both adults and children—are far more common than most people realize. As we did in this operation, the FBI and our partners will continue to find and arrest traffickers, identify and help victims, and raise awareness of the exploitation our most vulnerable populations.”

Officials say they've identified or arrested 85 suspects.