California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an intensive operation targeting human traffickers preying on vulnerable victims during the well-known San Diego Comic-Con Convention.

The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF) led the investigation, resulting in 14 arrests and the recovery of 10 individuals who were potential victims of sex trafficking.

The operation took place from July 25 to 27, 2024, as the California Department of Justice’s SDHTTF worked to combat the crime.

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Attorney General Bonta didn’t mince words when he shared his perspective, stating, “Unfortunately, sex traffickers capitalize on large-scale events such as Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit. These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated.”

He expressed his gratitude to the collaborative efforts of the dedicated partners within the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their invaluable support throughout the operation.

San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez echoed Bonta’s sentiments, emphasizing the damning nature of human trafficking and underscoring the need to hold perpetrators accountable. Martinez appreciated the focused efforts to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking during the recent convention.

San Diego Police Chief Wahl reinforced the commitment to combating human trafficking, lauding the successful recovery of 10 victims, including a 16-year-old girl.

Chief Wahl emphasized the dedication of law enforcement personnel in upholding the law and rescuing victims these situations.

Acting special agent in charge for HSI San Diego, Christopher Davis, stressed that while events like Comic-Con serve as a platform to showcase the city, criminal elements seeking to exploit minors will face the full force of the law.

Davis assured that Homeland Security Investigations and law enforcement partners would relentlessly pursue alleged predators and bring them to justice.

Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Carter from the NCIS Southwest Field Office expressed the grave nature of human trafficking as a violation of human rights that demands a unified response.

Carter reaffirmed NCIS’s commitment to safeguarding service members, their families, and the community from exploitation and abuse.

The operation, geared toward targeting sex buyers and recovering potential victims of sex trafficking, involved law enforcement personnel posing as buyers to identify and rescue victims, as well as apprehend traffickers.

Through a strategic approach that included posting undercover solicitations, law enforcement agencies successfully arrested 14 sex buyers and recovered 10 individuals potentially subjected to sex trafficking, including a 16-year-old minor.

The task force comprising various agencies, including the DOJ, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations, demonstrated a united front against human trafficking.