A couple months ago, two 18-year-old twins "Molly" and "Eve" were referred to O.U.R. by South American police. The girls...

A couple months ago, two 18-year-old twins "Molly" and "Eve" were referred to O.U.R. by South American police. The girls...

A couple months ago, two 18-year-old twins "Molly" and "Eve" were referred to O.U.R. by South American police. The girls had been exploited by American tourists and hadn't received proper aftercare after being freed. We were honored that the police entrusted our team to step in and fill that need.⁠ ⁠ Both girls had aspirations to go into cosmetology, and O.U.R. provided the resources for them to take courses. They recently finished the classes and are now certified cosmetologists! We will soon be throwing them a party to celebrate this achievement and their 19th birthdays. It is important to us to support survivors according to their individual needs during the healing process so they can reach their hopes and dreams. The girls also desire to learn English, and we will work with them to reach that goal.

A couple months ago, two 18-year-old twins "Molly" and "Eve" were referred to O.U.R. by South American police. The girls... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGLmGns66Z

Operation Underground Railroad is pleased to announce a new relationship with Hope Center Indy in conjunction with Jorda...

Operation Underground Railroad is pleased to announce a new relationship with Hope Center Indy in conjunction with Jorda...

Operation Underground Railroad is pleased to announce a new relationship with Hope Center Indy in conjunction with Jordan Detection K9, to provide a new ESD K9 Training Center on the Hope Center campus. The team from O.U.R. along with members from Hope Center Indy and Jordan Detection K9 broke ground together on the new facility located in Indiana. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Hope Center Indy is a residence for women who are healing from life-altering issues, many of whom are survivors of human trafficking. Todd Jordan, owner of Jordan Detection K9, has been using spare rooms at the Hope Center to train his dogs and handlers. O.U.R. is grateful to see Jordan Detection K9 continue to include the community of the Hope Center residents, and allow them to feel connected to a greater cause by being able to witness and interact with the K9s in training. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ O.U.R. is honored to be able to expand the program by fully funding the facility where the dogs from Jordan Detection K9 are going to be housed and trained. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Thank you to Delaware County Home Builders, Roger Ward Engineering for supporting the building phases. Thank you Curran Architecture and Kort Builders for the planning stages. ⁠⁠ @hopecenterindy @jordandetectionk9

Operation Underground Railroad is pleased to announce a new relationship with Hope Center Indy in conjunction with Jorda... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDqdgvg5xd

O.U.R. would like to congratulate authorities in Mexico on the arrest of an alleged fugitive child predator. While suppo...

O.U.R. would like to congratulate authorities in Mexico on the arrest of an alleged fugitive child predator. While suppo...

O.U.R. would like to congratulate authorities in Mexico on the arrest of an alleged fugitive child predator. While supporting investigations for Mexican federal authorities as part of a future operation, the O.U.R. Ops Team was asked to provide operational support in the arrest of this predator, an American citizen, who was wanted by both U.S. and Mexican authorities. The suspect was believed to be hiding out on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. He was wanted in the state of Florida on charges of cruelty towards a child and obscene material possession, as well as in Mexico for aggravated sexual assault of a child. ⁠ ⁠ Three young girls were identified during the operation as possible victims of abuse by this man. The O.U.R. Aftercare team is facilitating counseling and other aftercare services as needed for the girls and their family.⁠ ⁠ See link in profile for full story. (Photo: riviera-maya-news.com)

O.U.R. would like to congratulate authorities in Mexico on the arrest of an alleged fugitive child predator. While suppo... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CNBPwCNH9c9

14-year-old “Lily” was exploited throughout her childhood in nightclubs and by both her mother and by a local gang in Ce...

14-year-old “Lily” was exploited throughout her childhood in nightclubs and by both her mother and by a local gang in Ce...

14-year-old “Lily” was exploited throughout her childhood in nightclubs and by both her mother and by a local gang in Central America.  Three years later, during an operation referred to as Operation Barbarosa, the O.U.R. Ops Team supported local law enforcement as they rescued ten survivors, and Lily was one of them. The O.U.R. Aftercare Team was on site to help the girls feel safe through the process of being freed. Lily was 17 at the time and entered into an aftercare home for support. After aging out of the home at 18 years old, she moved into a place of her own. O.U.R. stays in contact with local social workers and in-country aftercare staff that we contract with to stay up to date on different survivors’ needs. Recently, the O.U.R. Aftercare Team joined the in-country team to meet with Lily and learn about her new business. We watched as Lily’s interest sparked and her passion fully ignited, the moment we asked about her business. Lily explained that she currently has a restaurant business, but made note that it was not operating under the ideal conditions, and she had to make do with what she had. She further explained, she had to cook on fire which slowed her ability to serve her customers. Lily also added that she did not have a fridge of her own, which forced her to use her neighbor’s fridge to store her food. After hearing Lily’s story, O.U.R. was eager to help support her and give her the necessary means for her business to thrive. O.U.R. provided a fridge for her food, along with a stove big enough to cook multiple dishes at once, and a wooden table for her customers to eat at. A few weeks later, our aftercare team received a phone call from Lily. With such a happy demeanor and excitement in her voice, she told our team on the phone how much money she had made that day at her restaurant business and how pleased she was for her success. She soon after began to invest the money that she made back into her business and even was able to start a chicken coop to raise and sell chickens as a part of her business. Lily’s story is a true testament of hope, and O.U.R. is grateful to be a part of it.

14-year-old “Lily” was exploited throughout her childhood in nightclubs and by both her mother and by a local gang in Ce... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CM5BqywAFhy

Thanks to your donations, today O.U.R. presented the Tallahassee Police Department @tallypd with a new SUV to support th...

Thanks to your donations, today O.U.R. presented the Tallahassee Police Department @tallypd with a new SUV to support th...

Thanks to your donations, today O.U.R. presented the Tallahassee Police Department @tallypd with a new SUV to support their Special Victims Unit in the fight against human trafficking. This larger SUV will allow a safe space for TPD Investigator Beth Bascom to speak with survivors from a comfortable distance onsite in investigations, instead of in the parking lot or place where the crime happened. The vehicle will also be used to transport families of survivors, as well as to deliver clothing and hygiene kits. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ With this vehicle donation, O.U.R. wants to recognize TPD’s efforts in a two-year human trafficking investigation, Operation Stolen Innocence, which yielded the arrests of more than 170 people on charges ranging from human trafficking of a minor to solicitation of prostitution. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ “We are thrilled to receive this new SUV for our Special Victims Unit. The recognition this unit and investigators received highlights their great work and remarkable success during Operation Stolen Innocence. As a result of their steadfast effort, our community is significantly safer,” Chief Lawrence Revell said. “Thank you to O.U.R. for providing the new vehicle to help our investigators in their fight against the dehumanizing practice of human trafficking.” ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ O.U.R. proudly supports and collaborates with law enforcement officials nationwide in this important cause to disrupt the trafficking and exploitation of children. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ See link in profile to watch TPD’s Facebook Live featuring O.U.R. Domestic Consultant Chris Swanson and TPD Officers Beth Bascom and Paul Osborn.

Thanks to your donations, today O.U.R. presented the Tallahassee Police Department @tallypd with a new SUV to support th... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2k67TAA-m

Do you #KnowTheSigns of human trafficking? See our link in profile to learn more about risk factors and warning signs,...

Do you #KnowTheSigns of human trafficking? See our link in profile to learn more about risk factors and warning signs,...

Do you #KnowTheSigns of human trafficking? See our link in profile to learn more about risk factors and warning signs, and find answers to questions like “Are kids kidnapped for human trafficking?”

Do you #KnowTheSigns of human trafficking? See our link in profile to learn more about risk factors and warning signs,... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CM0U-L3geC_

O.U.R. sponsors Electronic Storage Device (ESD) detection canines throughout the U.S. that help sniff out the chemical s...

O.U.R. sponsors Electronic Storage Device (ESD) detection canines throughout the U.S. that help sniff out the chemical s...

O.U.R. sponsors Electronic Storage Device (ESD) detection canines throughout the U.S. that help sniff out the chemical scent of these devices and aid law enforcement in finding evidence to help successfully prosecute child predators. These specialized pups can smell the trace of these devices, which are often small in size and difficult to locate by search warrant alone. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Here is the work that some of our K9s have done in December and January! ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ In Arkansas, the police department, along with K9 Lucy, assisted the FBI in executing a search warrant where Lucy found evidence containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that led to an arrest. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ K9 Frankie, helped law enforcement in California serve four search warrants and recovered several pieces of evidence.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ One of our newest K9s, Jab, was sent out to help in North Dakota and assisted in five search warrants. Over a dozen pieces of evidence were recovered.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ K9 Sota helped out the investigative bureau in Minnesota, after alerting on a heating duct that was searched previously. Once investigators grabbed a mirror to examine further, a cell phone that had been overlooked was found. In December and January, Sota was used on seven search warrants! ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ We are so grateful for the work that these pups continuously do to help make these arrests and rescues possible.

O.U.R. sponsors Electronic Storage Device (ESD) detection canines throughout the U.S. that help sniff out the chemical s... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CMxlfjZA11O

Ton (who asked that his name be changed for this article) was 13 when he was sent away from his family home in Isaan, Th...

Ton (who asked that his name be changed for this article) was 13 when he was sent away from his family home in Isaan, Th...

Ton (who asked that his name be changed for this article) was 13 when he was sent away from his family home in Isaan, Thailand, to work for a “friend” in Pattaya. ⁠ ⁠ These “friends” the children and youth stay with are often anything but. The work starts relatively benign: sweep the bar, serve the patrons. But it slowly starts to escalate, drugs and alcohol are introduced, and eventually, the sex work begins.⁠ Not everyone makes it out, but he feels lucky he did. ⁠ Now, he swags into the Muay Thai ring, bristling with muscle and covered in tattoos. His punches are freight trains, his shins made of steel, and there’s a fire burning in his eyes that’s difficult to describe. At first look Ton looks as though he could never be a victim of anything. The pinnacle of strong and cool, manliness embodied. However, when asked about his past, his eyes grow distant, his countenance changes. ⁠ ⁠ “Nobody gives a shit,” says Ton. “If you tell people, they tell you to ‘man up’ or be tougher. They question your manhood for ever being there in the first place.” ⁠ ⁠ Many male survivors’ stories are left unreported, perhaps due to “a culture that portrays girls as vulnerable, weak and victims and men as strong, powerful and perpetrators,” as described in ECPAT’s study “And Boys Too”. ⁠ ⁠ Ton gave us permission to share his story. “If people hear my story, then they will know the reality we face. I know this happens to more men, I still know men stuck in the system. I want my story out there so that people will know, people will be angry, and people will fight for change. Then, maybe someday, this will stop happening.” ⁠ ⁠ See our link in profile to read Ton’s story and learn more about how men’s stories are often left untold.

Ton (who asked that his name be changed for this article) was 13 when he was sent away from his family home in Isaan, Th... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CMvgk-pHr_N

THE BOY IN THE GREEN SHIRT (continued), written by an O.U.R. Operator: ⁠ ⁠ “The Boy in the Green Shirt” investigation di...

THE BOY IN THE GREEN SHIRT (continued), written by an O.U.R. Operator: ⁠ ⁠ “The Boy in the Green Shirt” investigation di...

THE BOY IN THE GREEN SHIRT (continued), written by an O.U.R. Operator: ⁠ ⁠ “The Boy in the Green Shirt” investigation didn’t end with the arrest of “Simon’s” offender at that Burger King. That arrest activated a digital forensic victim identification team who would rotate shifts and take turns staring at computer monitors for the next 10 months. Ever since that arrest, multiple teams have been combing through hundreds of thousands of CSAM files, each file representing a real survivor. From the onset, a single boy wearing a green shirt was the focus. One single survivor mobilized an entire team. But what nobody knew is that this single survivor would represent so much more. ⁠ ⁠ Evidence gathered from “The Boy in the Green Shirt” investigation eventually led police to a 2-story house in a quiet neighborhood. To the very room where the little boy was exploited and abused. It led them to the desk he was sitting at in those first photos seized by police. It also led them to a clothes rack tucked neatly in a quiet corner of a small room. A neatly organized clothes rack of matching children’s shirts, all freshly washed and ironed. Just plain shirts, all matching in color and shape hanging neatly in an endless row. Nobody at the scene knew how important that clothes rack would be to this investigation. Nobody had any idea that each of those tiny shirts would come to represent more survivors. ⁠ ⁠ A case that started almost a year ago with art lessons and a casual conversation between 2 people sitting on the floor in a small house in Asia, turned into a task-force of police investigators, civilian investigators, digital forensic analysts, social workers, medical professionals, and volunteers from around the world. ⁠ ⁠ The saddest part, the most alarming thing about this case isn’t the number of victims or the network that was set up to find them, groom them, isolate and abuse them. The saddest part about this case is that it’s not unique. It’s not an anomaly. It’s commonplace. And it’s happening everywhere, all over the world.⁠ ⁠ (See the "SIMON" highlight on our profile to read the full story of "The Boy in the Green Shirt".)⁠

THE BOY IN THE GREEN SHIRT (continued), written by an O.U.R. Operator: ⁠ ⁠ “The Boy in the Green Shirt” investigation di... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnQVaRnRle

⁠ ❌ In a recent NCMEC analysis of CyberTipline reports of online enticement, it was found that nearly all the children d...

⁠ ❌ In a recent NCMEC analysis of CyberTipline reports of online enticement, it was found that nearly all the children d...

⁠ ❌ In a recent NCMEC analysis of CyberTipline reports of online enticement, it was found that nearly all the children did not know the person they were communicating with online. (NCMEC)⁠ ⁠ ❌ As defined by the FBI, sextortion is a crime that happens online when an adult convinces a person that is younger than 18 to share sexual pictures or perform sexual acts on a webcam.⁠ ⁠ ❌ In sextortion cases, first contact is typically by phone via a social media friend request. Victims are targeted on platforms they frequent. (Thorn) ⁠ ⁠ Because children and teens have increased access to the internet, it is important to help them understand safe practices. See our link in profile for 5 essential resources to help you navigate these conversations.

⁠ ❌ In a recent NCMEC analysis of CyberTipline reports of online enticement, it was found that nearly all the children d... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CMk6_7InXkN

Have you read “The Boy in the Green Shirt”? This story, written by an O.U.R. Operator, is about an investigation that st...

Have you read “The Boy in the Green Shirt”? This story, written by an O.U.R. Operator, is about an investigation that st...

Have you read “The Boy in the Green Shirt”? This story, written by an O.U.R. Operator, is about an investigation that started in Southeast Asia after police found photos of an unidentified young boy in a green shirt being sexually assaulted. The offender had unique, identifiable physical traits, so law enforcement was able to quickly identify a citizen with matching traits to this alleged offender. They requested the support of the O.U.R. Ops Team to gather additional intelligence which may help find the young boy in the green shirt. ⁠ ⁠ “The Boy in the Green Shirt” case has since led to the identification of more survivors. We are excited to share more with you soon.⁠ ⁠ To read the original blog post about this investigation, see our link in profile! ⁠

Have you read “The Boy in the Green Shirt”? This story, written by an O.U.R. Operator, is about an investigation that st... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/CMiGudIFWIv