A two-week operation in Mississippi has yielded 61 arrests connected to a statewide crackdown on child exploitation. “Operation Muddy Waters demonstrates HSI’s unwavering commitment to protecting children, supporting victims, and holding offenders accountable. The following agencies participated in the operation:Bay St. Louis Police DepartmentBiloxi Police DepartmentDesoto County Sheriff’s OfficeFederal Bureau of InvestigationForrest County Sheriff’s OfficeHarrison County Sheriff’s OfficeJackson County Sheriff’s OfficeLafayette County Sheriff’s OfficeLee County Sheriff’s OfficeLeland Police DepartmentMarshall County Sheriff’s OfficeMississippi Bureau of InvestigationMontgomery County Sheriff’s OfficeOxford Police DepartmentPearl River County Sheriff’s DepartmentStone County Sheriff’s OfficeU.S. Wildlife and FisheriesWiggins Police Department“Let today’s message be heard loud and clear: if you exploit a child, if you traffic a child, or if you prey on the most vulnerable among us, we will use every lawful tool available to identify you, arrest you, prosecute you, and seek the toughest sentence the law permits,” Kruger said. Operation Muddy Waters ran from July 20-31, with partnering agencies coordinating search warrants and arrests. The operation also included a sex offender compliance check to locate and identify sex offender registry absconders.