The results of a five-day operation spanning across five different cities was announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Dec.13 which resulted in eight total arrests, services offered to 26 potential human trafficking victims and the recovery of two ghost guns.
“Operation Home for the holidays” was the undercover operation which concluded on Friday to combat human trafficking through a multi-jurisdictional joint effort to identify and contact potential sex trafficking victims and traffickers.
Human Trafficking It is dubbed as the modern-day form of slavery. Perpetrators make profit from the control and exploitation of all people, including children for sex or labor through force, fraud, or coercion.
Among other industries, victims of human trafficking can also be found among migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, providers of residential care, and in California’s garment sector. More than 1,500 human trafficking cases have been recorded in 2019 within the state of California according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
“We all deserve to have a safe place to call home during the holidays — and throughout the entire year,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Operation Home for the Holidays is about holding traffickers accountable and helping people extricate themselves from potentially dangerous situations. I’m grateful to our partners on the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their collaboration and ongoing commitment to public safety. There’s no single solution to putting an end to human trafficking, but together we can make a difference”
Law enforcement personnel would go undercover and respond to online advertisements for sex all throughout San Diego County during this opperation.This effort was done in collaboration with the Carlsbad Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, Escondido Police Department, Oceanside Police Department, and San Diego Police Department.
“Human trafficking brings out the absolute worst traits of humanity; they use varied forms of force, fraud, and coercion to harm, control, and exploit their victims,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Special Agent in Charge, Chad Plantz. “HSI San Diego proudly partners with local, state, and other federal law enforcement agencies to aggressively investigate human trafficking cases, provide assistance to victims, and aggressively pursue perpetrators. As a result of our combined efforts, our community is assured these alleged traffickers will face justice.”
Human trafficking is most prevalently seen in urban areas according to the FBI. The cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco are the top three child prostitution regions nationwide.
As part of the effort, Child Welfare Services was on scene and juvenile advocates were on standby to provide assistance in the event that undercover personnel encountered potential juvenile survivors according to the Attorney General’s office in a press release.
