The State Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina says a  15-year-old girl has been rescued after becoming victim to human trafficking.

ABC 11 reports that police issued a statewide AMBER Alert on Thursday, although the teen had been missing since February 21, and search efforts were already underway. The Siler City Police Department called in the SBI’s criminal apprehension team and computer crimes unit for assistance.

Police, with help from the SBI and the FBI, located the 15-year-old female in a residential area of Asheboro on the 100 block of W. Strider Street around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, FOX 8 reports.

She was found with one of two suspects, Ronny Suarez. The second suspect, Saul Ramirez Guvara, was arrested and charged in connection with the teen’s disappearance after police found him at the Quality Inn in Kinston.

Police took both suspects into custody, charging them with first-degree kidnapping, human trafficking of a child victim, soliciting a child by computer, and other offenses.

“This case was a great team effort for all involved, and the SBI is very proud of the work done by the entire team and the outcome achieved! The SBI would like to thank the Siler City Police Department, the FBI, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department, the Asheboro Police Department, and the community for their collaboration in bringing this young girl home,” the NCSBI said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Anyone with information about this case should call the Siler City Police Department at 919-742-5626.

[Feature Photo: Ronny Suearez and Saul Ramirez Guvara/NCSBI]