WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 12, 2025 – FBI Director Kash Patel announced a series of “historic results” in the bureau’s fight against child exploitation, human trafficking, and drug smuggling, crediting President Donald Trump’s administration for the surge in enforcement actions.
In a video posted to his official X account, Patel detailed key metrics from the FBI’s operations this year, including the rescue of 4,000 child victims—a 33% increase compared to the previous year—and the seizure of 1,500 kilograms of fentanyl, up 25% and an amount potent enough to kill 115 million Americans. The director also highlighted 19,000 total arrests, with 1,600 specifically for violent crimes against children, including 270 human traffickers.
“This is what happens when you have great leadership at the Attorney General with Pam Bondi,” Patel said in the video, which appears to be excerpted from a White House press briefing alongside President Trump. “Your administration’s priority: protecting the homeland, protecting American citizens, and protecting our children.” He added that murder rates are plummeting and on track to be the lowest in modern U.S. recorded history, attributing the progress to the team’s focus under Trump’s directives.
Patel, who was sworn in as the ninth FBI Director in February 2025 following Trump’s return to office, has overseen a series of reforms aimed at refocusing the agency on core law enforcement priorities.
These include cracking down on violent crime in major cities and enhancing international cooperation to disrupt darknet drug trafficking networks.
The announcement comes amid broader administration efforts to address fentanyl flows, which have been a persistent crisis. While official government reports from earlier in fiscal year 2025 noted seizures of around 1,634 kilograms by various agencies through December 2024, the FBI’s updated figures reflect continued momentum into the summer months.
Critics, including some former officials, have raised concerns about Patel’s approach, arguing it risks politicizing the FBI through proposed purges and structural changes.
However, supporters point to tangible outcomes like these as evidence of effective leadership.
The Department of Homeland Security has also reported parallel successes in child trafficking rescues, though the FBI’s numbers focus specifically on its investigations.
As the administration pushes forward, Patel’s update underscores a hardline stance: “This is how you put criminals on notice.”