Authorities announced that a collaborative human trafficking operation in San Diego Comic-Con between the state prosecutor’s office and San Diego led to the rescue of 10 potential sex trafficking victims.
An undercover operation targeting human trafficking at San Diego Comic-Con last weekend resulted in 14 arrests of individuals seeking to buy sex and the rescue of 10 potential sex trafficking victims, according to the California Attorney General’s Office.
The operation involved officers from various agencies working undercover as sex buyers to identify traffickers and victims, as well as posting fake ads soliciting sex.
From July 25 to July 27, 14 alleged sex buyers were arrested, and 10 supposed victims were rescued, including a 16-year-old, according to the Office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which provided support services to the victims.
Operation Tactics and Victim Support at San Diego Comic-Con
The state Department of Justice reported that law enforcement agents conducted the operation undercover in San Diego Comic-Con, posing as “sex buyers” to locate suspects and potential victims. Additionally, they posted undercover ads soliciting sexual services to identify traffickers. The three-day operation also provided support to the rescued victims, including child welfare services for the teenager.
San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez expressed concern over human trafficking and exploitation that occurs at large events. “There is no crime more insidious than human trafficking,” said Martinez. She appreciated the focus on the recent convention to identify and rescue trafficking victims, highlighting the importance of such operations in combating this crime.
Comic-Con, which had been held virtually during the pandemic, returned to its usual venue at the San Diego Convention Center, once again attracting thousands of attendees. Christopher Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego, noted that large-scale events like Comic-Con can be exploited by criminals to target attendees, especially minors.
Davis reiterated the authorities’ commitment to finding and bringing to justice those who take advantage of these opportunities to commit crimes. The human trafficking operation involved collaboration from various agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, among others.
