Missions Accomplished, October 2012

The following is an updated accounting of our coalition’s efforts in fighting the underage sex industry in SouthEast Asia through undercover investigations. As a collaborative effort, victim rescue is happening, and here’s what it looks like {most recent listed first}:

The Coalition Collective Statistics:

15 contracted investigators. 618 victim rescues. 350 cases prosecuted. 11 organizations represented.

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Tasers Purchased. Thinking through how to best protect our operatives, we purchased and delivered two small, covertasers for teams to test (or hopefully, not have to test!) in the field. Hopefully, we will be able to purchase more in the future, giving each investigator the option of carrying one into places that could be more dangerous for their own physical safety.

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Ghost Phone Purchased. The Exodus Road gets a request for a certain piece of covert equipment from a field operative called a “ghost phone.” Funds are raised and the phone purchased and granted to investigator.

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Local Police Request Aid. Local police call and ask for members of the Exodus Road team to investigate a suspected place of sex trafficking. Field Director deploys an investigator to follow the lead. {Sept. 2012}

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MISSION: Bordertown Locked Brothel. FULLY-FUNDED/OVER-FUNDED. Investigative efforts are targeted at gathering evidence for two brothels where a potential 2 – 4 underage victims are being held. {Sept. 2012}

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RAID/RESCUE. Members of The Exodus Road coalition were involved in gathering evidence for and helping to empower the raid which rescued a girl named “Sarah” and 7 other underage victims of sex trafficking. Members of the coalition worked closely with four other nongovernment and government organizations throughout the case. Investigators gathered evidence and helped facilitate the manpower and funding that helped this raid in Cambodia take place. You can read about Sarah’s story here and her rescue here. {Sept. 2012}