In Operation Multi-Agency, Las Cruces police locate 78 missing minors

LAS CRUCES – A two-month multinational operation made it possible to locate 78 minors between the ages of 5 and 18 who were missing in Doña Ana County, the Las Cruces Police Department announced.

The operation called “Operation Rescue Me” began on may 1 and its objective was to locate and recover missing children in Doña Ana County.

The united work of various agencies and civil organizations made it possible to locate and recover the children with a disappearance report in the county, for which the coordinated work between the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), National Security Investigations ( HSI) and the United States Marshals Service, who worked in collaboration with the New Mexico State Police (NMSP), the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office (DACSO) , the Anthony Police Department (APD), the Sunland Park Police Department (SPPD), the New Mexico Department of Children and Youth and the Department of Families, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Attorney General’s Office of New Mexico and the nonprofit Deliver Fund.

Through its official website the Police Department mentions that they will remain committed to their mission to protect the most vulnerable in the communities, including children at risk who may come from difficult environments in their homes, who face homelessness and who They could find themselves suffering from substance abuse and temptation online.

Erik P. Breitzke, special agent in charge of National Security Investigations Division in El Paso, highlighted the work that has been done jointly to prevent minors from becoming victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking; he also added that they will continue to work collaboratively to reduce the number of missing children, in addition to educating the community about this growing problem.

Sonya K. Chavez, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico, stated that the initiative to locate and rescue missing children will continue to be one of the priorities for the United States Marshal Service.

Of all the minors rescued: three of them were recovered and 75 were located; while two other cases are pending.

It was announced that among the resolved cases, the police located a minor who resided in Mexico; two investigations were initiated for child sexual abuse by relatives or friends of immediate relatives; and an investigation was initiated for human trafficking through Deming’s HSI Homeland Security.

Once they were recovered and brought to safety, they were removed from the National Crime Information Center where they were active as fugitives or missing persons.

Investigations continue to be carried out in order to protect children and adolescents in southern New Mexico and western Texas, so society wishing to report a crime is encouraged to call 911 or (866) 347-2423 .