Arrests in Human Trafficking Sting at California's Comic-Con
In a significant human trafficking crackdown during the San Diego Comic-Con, California authorities reported the arrest of 14 individuals and the rescue of 10 victims. The annual convention, held from July 25 to July 28, attracts around 100,000 attendees each year, making it a prime target for traffickers.
Law enforcement officials noted that Comic-Con has been exploited by human traffickers to find potential victims. The arrests were part of an extensive operation conducted by California’s Human Trafficking Task Force, as announced by Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“Large events like Comic-Con unfortunately provide opportunities for sex traffickers to profit from exploiting victims,” stated Mr. Bonta on Tuesday. “These arrests send a clear signal to offenders that such criminal behavior will not be tolerated.”
The task force’s strategy involved targeting sex buyers at the convention, rescuing potential victims, and apprehending traffickers. Officers operated undercover, posing as sex buyers to identify and arrest traffickers, and also posted fake ads soliciting sex to catch buyers.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 14 sex buyers. Among the recovered victims were nine adults and a 16-year-old, all of whom were offered social services. The initiative received praise from local law enforcement, with San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez emphasizing the severity of human trafficking.
“There is no crime more insidious than human trafficking,” Sheriff Martinez remarked. “I commend the focus on the recent convention to identify and rescue victims.”
Globally, an estimated 27.6 million people are victims of human trafficking at any given time, according to the US Department of State. In 2021, over 2,000 individuals were referred to US attorneys for human-trafficking offenses, with arrest rates having doubled from 2011 to 2021, as per the US Bureau of Justice Statistics.
