Comic-con Sting Uncovers Nine Human Trafficking Victims And Leads To 27 Arrests

Authorities arrested 27 suspected activity buyers and recovered 9 suspected human trafficking victims during a three-day sting cognition timed to coincide pinch Comic-Con International successful San Diego, officials announced Wednesday.

Operation Iron Justice ran from July 22 to July 24 and targeted nan request for commercialized activity that authorities opportunity often increases during ample events specified arsenic Comic-Con. At slightest 7 big and 2 juvenile victims were rescued.

The multi-agency San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force utilized undercover officers to place and apprehension group suspected of soliciting prostitution, loitering to solicit adultery and related offenses.

Investigators besides located 7 big trafficking victims and 2 juvenile victims, including a 16-year-old from San Bernardino County who had been reported missing. Officials said each of nan victims were connected pinch support services.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said nan cognition focused connected reducing nan request that fuels quality trafficking.

"The disfigured truth is that nan request for these forbidden services fuels nan proviso of commercialized activity operations and quality trafficking," Bonta said. "No matter if it's astir large-scale conventions aliases anyplace else, inducement is simply a crime and California stands fresh to clasp offenders accountable."

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said nan arrests should nonstop a clear connection that buying activity is not a victimless crime.

"The connection we sent was large and clear that quality beings are not for sale," Stephan said. "The arrests of 27 activity buyers during this large-scale gathering sends a clear connection that purchasing activity is not a victimless crime."

While San Diego County District Attorney Heather Ferbert added, “The request for commercialized activity is what makes trafficking profitable, and successful nan City of San Diego, buyers will beryllium held accountable. My agency revenge 81 cases against activity buyers truthful acold this year, leveraging authorities rule that now targets buyers directly.”

“The betterment of big and juvenile victims during this cognition underscores why this activity is truthful critical,” San Diego County Sheriff Kelly A. Martinez said. “Human trafficking is simply a crime that often goes unnoticed. Every successful betterment is simply a life changed.”

Stephan said nan commercialized activity waste and acquisition generates much than $810 cardinal a twelvemonth successful San Diego County and profits from nan exploitation of some children and adults.

Authorities behaviour akin anti-trafficking operations during Comic-Con each year. Last year's enforcement effort resulted successful 13 arrests.

San Diego’s Comic-Con welcomed astir 135,000 group this year, generating a whopping $160 cardinal for nan section economy.

Officials encouraged nan nationalist to study suspected quality trafficking aliases related crimes. Anyone who believes they aliases personification they cognize whitethorn beryllium a unfortunate tin interaction nan National Human Trafficking Hotline astatine 1-888-373-7888 for confidential support. Victims tin besides activity assistance done nan California Department of Justice's Victims' Services Unit by calling 877-433-9069 aliases visiting its website.