Australia
New ZealandThe new year has brought new successes for the Destiny Rescue team in the Dominican Republic!
Pursuing growth
Police and Destiny Rescue agents gathered during a raid
Our team on the ground has been steadily building a network of relationships with various local law enforcement agencies. Gaining the trust of police and officials was a daunting task at times—especially with changes in the social landscape over the last few years—but our team was resolute. They patiently nurtured personal relationships and fostered new connections, never losing sight of their long-term goal of rescuing more kids in the region.
We’ve come a long way in our collaboration with the police, and it’s showing.
Building trust
Last year, we worked with the police on about five to six cases a month. Now, in the first quarter of 2023, we’re averaging 15 cases a month. At this rate, the Dominican Republic team could meet their year-end case goal by July!
Agents cautiously enter a building during a raid
Law enforcement agencies work closely with our team because they know they can trust us. Our agents, many of whom are current or former law enforcement, have a strong understanding of police procedures. “We’ve learned how the different government agencies and law enforcement tick,” said Lucas, the rescue manager there. “Because we meet their needs, they are willing to help meet ours.”
Our agents’ expertise in undercover work, analytics and each aspect of the investigative process are valuable resources to police. And because we’ve built such strong ties with law enforcement agencies, they feel comfortable integrating our people into their investigations—we’re collaborating side by side in our joint mission to rescue children in the region.
Taking Action
These brave agents go undercover, often pretending to be child sex buyers themselves, to identify victims and traffickers alike. They spend countless hours surveilling traffickers and victims, tracking the perpetrators to their hideouts and often revealing more victims and offenders in the process.
We also help police by wading through mountains of data to build solid cases against perpetrators so they never get to harm another child. Lucas is proud of our investigators’ efforts: “They know exactly what police will need to close the case, and make sure to go the extra mile beyond the rescue and make sure that the evidence is properly collected and a prosecution is likely.”
This confiscated ledger was collected as evidence during Operation Cattleya to show a victim’s earnings toward paying her debt; an hour of abuse earned her about USD$18
Finally, we often join police on raids and arrests, assisting in every step of the process.
Building Momentum
A major raid last year demonstrated our collaboration with the police. Our operatives worked alongside officers in Operation Cattleya, a massive raid that rescued over 70 survivors and took down an international trafficking ring. That nine-month-long case culminated in an enormous joint operation that spanned half the country.
Lucas credits that case, along with many other smaller ones, for the trust that’s been built with officials. “Through the (Cattleya) case, our relationships with law enforcement have become very strong,” Lucas said.
Surveillance photo from Operation Cattleya
The raid did more than prove our partnership’s effectiveness; it forced traffickers to change how they operate. Criminals were so shaken by the event that we’ve seen them begin to shift the way they carry out their despicable trade in the Dominican Republic.
New investigations indicate that international traffickers who bring in victims from neighboring countries are changing where they do business to try and avoid detection. Our team is already working with police to prosecute these criminals, no matter where they try to hide.
Championing restoration
We’re helping police take down more perpetrators than ever, setting their victims free from the bondage of exploitation. And now, thanks to new partnerships, we’re giving survivors a boost on their journey to freedom.
The rapport we’ve established with government agencies grants us the influence to suggest loving, Christ-centered organizations to help survivors heal. We’ve built relationships with local Christian organizations that use comprehensive aftercare programs, including counseling with psychologists, to help survivors recover.
Our goal is that each child we rescue is empowered to remain free from exploitation
After being treated as a commodity for so long, the young survivors are learning to value themselves again. They learn that they are much more than a body to abuse, but instead an eternal soul so loved by the Creator of the universe that He gave His Son so they could be together.
That type of knowledge changes lives.
“We can see how life changes for those girls after being rescued… they become somebody they themselves could never imagine,” Johnathan, country manager in the Dominican, remarked.
“They are no longer living in fear of sexual exploitation,” Lucas said.
If you want to play a role in putting away traffickers and changing lives, please consider joining us by completing the form below. Your gift means more than you can imagine.
Donate with confidence
Over the last three years, 81.8% of every dollar we spent was used for programs that benefit the children we defend.
Destiny Rescue is recognized by Guidestar, Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau for our commitment to transparency, accountability and financial integrity.
