By California’s state attorney general announced the successful completion of an anti-human trafficking operation conducted at the renowned Comic Convention—commonly known as Comic-Con—in San Diego, California. The operation, which took place last week, resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals and the recovery of 10 sex trafficking victims, highlighting a significant step in combating human trafficking at large public events.
In an official statement, Attorney General Rob Bonta detailed the joint operation between his office and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. This concerted effort was specifically aimed at targeting individuals who exploit large-scale events like Comic-Con to seek out potential victims for trafficking.
Comic-Con, an annual gathering dedicated to comics, art, movies, video games, and other media, attracts a massive crowd. This year’s event in San Diego reportedly drew an attendance of approximately 135,000 people, providing a fertile ground for traffickers to operate.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized that traffickers often take advantage of such high-attendance events to exploit individuals, particularly targeting the most vulnerable. The operation was meticulously planned to address this issue, focusing on both arresting sex buyers and providing assistance to potential victims.
The attorney general’s office highlighted that the operation not only aimed to apprehend sex buyers but also sought to rescue potential victims and apprehend traffickers. Law enforcement personnel played a crucial role, working undercover as sex buyers to identify and contact potential victims of trafficking and ultimately arrest their exploiters. Undercover agents also posted covert advertisements soliciting sex to lure and apprehend buyers.
The three-day operation concluded with the arrest of 14 sex buyers, the rescue of nine adult potential victims, and the recovery of one 16-year-old victim. The rescued individuals were immediately provided with support services, including shelter and counseling, as child welfare services and juvenile support service advocates were present at the scene to assist the victims.
The California attorney general’s office acknowledged the significant contributions of several law enforcement agencies in this operation, including the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, the San Diego Police Department, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. These agencies were key partners in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, working collectively to ensure the success of the operation and the safety of potential victims.
VOA
