FBI reports 118 arrests during Operation Not Forgotten 2026

The Department of Justice and the FBI have announced the results of Operation Not Forgotten 2026, a six-month personnel surge aimed at addressing unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country. Running from April 1 through September 30, the initiative prioritized cases involving violence against women and children, including missing and murdered indigenous persons.

The operation resulted in 118 arrests, a 123% increase over the previous year, and 41 federal charges, representing a 52% increase. Law enforcement officials also identified or located 25 child victims and recovered 72 weapons. The FBI conducted 990 interviews and 232 search operations across 11 field offices, including locations in New Mexico, Montana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

This initiative addresses a crisis in which American Indian and Alaska Native women face murder rates significantly higher than the national average. FBI Director Kash Patel described the results as outstanding, noting that the bureau worked more than 500 cases during this period, a 59% increase from the prior year.