FBI arrests 169 in sex trafficking effort before Super Bowl

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The FBI says 169 people were arrested as a result of an 11-day effort targeting human trafficking in the lead-up to the Super Bowl in Atlanta.

In a news release Tuesday, the agency said that the operation ran from Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. The FBI says it aimed to raise awareness by taking proactive steps to address the threat of sex trafficking before and during the Super Bowl.

Investigators said the arrests included 26 alleged traffickers and 34 people accused of trying to have sex with minors.

According to the agency, nine juvenile sex-trafficking victims were recovered, the youngest being just 14 years old. Nine adult human trafficking victims were also identified.

The FBI collaborated with more than two dozen local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices, as well as non-government organizations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.