Last month, Portland police recovered six teenage girls during an extensive operation to rescue those being sex trafficked in Portland. The victims ranged from 13 to 17 years old and were found during enforcement operations that began on April 15, led by Portland Police’s Human Trafficking Unit and East Precinct officers.

The girls were found in Portland’s 82nd Avenue corridor, which has long struggled with sex trafficking and prostitution, but officials described last month’s victim count as “a stunning number” and “significantly higher than the norm.”

“While it is not unusual for HTU members to rescue providers from their traffickers, it is unusual to see so many children in this short a period,” officials said. “It’s not clear whether this is a new trend or simply an anomaly.” The rescued teens received support through Portland Police Victim Services and Safety Compass, an organization serving survivors of commercial sexual exploitation under age 25.

Oregon’s Department of Human Services is working to reunite the girls with out-of-state families or secure appropriate care placements, according to authorities.

Police noted, “The survivors in these cases are often reluctant to come forward, make a report, and/or continue through the criminal justice process. HTU continues to offer trauma-informed, victim-centered services, in conjunction with PPB Victim Services Unit advocates and community-based partnerships like Safety Compass.”

Cases against suspected traffickers and buyers remain under investigation, with no arrests immediately announced. Authorities encouraged those who know someone being trafficked to call 911 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.