SAN DIEGO–As part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a three-day operation from January 26 through January 28 throughout San Diego county targeting sex buyers and traffickers.
The task force and allied local law enforcement agencies arrested a total of 30 men for solicitation and one man for pimping, pandering, and possession of a concealed firearm, after he recruited an undercover detective into prostitution online. The cases will be referred to local prosecutors.
“Sex buyers help drive the demand for the criminal business of sex trafficking. The activities of those arrested in the operation contribute to the negative consequences victims of human trafficking endure,” according to the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force.
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force was created to combat human trafficking by not only investigating and pursuing traffickers, but also by pursuing those looking to pay and engage in this type of unlawful activity.
The task force involved in this week’s operation were: The California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security and Investigations, National City Police Department, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego County Probation Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, the Chula Vista Police Department also participated in the operation.
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force encourages the public to report human trafficking to their local law enforcement agency or by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.