What Is Operation Twisted Traveler?
Operation Twisted Traveler is a law enforcement crackdown on Americans who travel to Cambodia to have sex with children. It's a joint operation between the Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Cambodian police, according to Fox News.
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Child Exploitation
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It is estimated that 2 million children are being exploited worldwide. The problem is particularly bad in Cambodia, Thailand and Costa Rica, according to CBS News.
Training
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Part of the operation involves training the Cambodia police in "all aspects of child sex tourism investigations, ranging from search and seizure procedures to surveillance techniques," according to the FBI.
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Protect Act
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Suspects arrested as part of Operation Twisted Traveler are prosecuted under the Protect Act. The law went into effect in 2003, and mandates a life sentence for offenders with prior convictions for assaulting children.
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References
- CBS News: Operation Twisted Traveler
- Fox News: U.S. Pedophiles Nabbed in Cambodia Sex-Tourist Sting
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles: Three American Men Accused of Traveling to Cambodia to Have Sex with Children Now En Route to United States to Face Prosecution on Federal "Sex Tourism" Charges