Police reportedly arrested 539 people in a week-long sex trafficking investigation.
Law enforcement reportedly detained several sex trafficking suspects and rescued various victims last week as part of the state's 10th annual Recovery and Reconstruction Operation. . ABC7 report.
More than 500 people arrested, dozens rescued in state-wide human trafficking operation
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 54 adults and 11 children were rescued, including a 14-year-old girl.https://t.co/7xPP3aKHmJ
— K (@Kayla_M_Roth) January 31, 2024
According to the report, authorities arrested 40 people on suspicion of being “sex traffickers or exploiters” and 271 on suspicion of being “buyers of sex.” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 54 adults and 11 children were rescued as part of the statewide effort, including a 14-year-old girl.
“Human trafficking and child exploitation are devastating crimes that prey on the most vulnerable in our communities,” Luna said.
More than 95 federal, state and local agencies participated in the anti-trafficking mission, including officials from the Los Angeles Area Human Trafficking Task Force, the newspaper reported. It is unclear how many arrests were made in Los Angeles County.
Luna said the Los Angeles County investigation concluded with the arrest of 12 male suspects, including two on the sex offender registry, on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution. Task Force officers conducted an undercover “sex buyer” operation on Holt Street in Pomona that led to the arrest, the newspaper reported.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said he will ensure sex trafficking victims are protected at all times, noting that victims often fear for their safety. Gascón was joined by Luna at the news conference, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department, the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.
Luna said law enforcement officials are constantly working to apprehend human traffickers throughout the year, as the annual week-long operation conducted during Human Trafficking Awareness Month has concluded.
