Two minors were among the 77 victims rescued in an anti-sex trafficking operation in the San Diego area, California Attorney General Rob Bonta (in photo) announced. FILE PHOTO
SAN DIEGO – Two minors were rescued in the San Diego area as part of a nationwide multi-agency anti-sex-trafficking sweep, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced this week.
“Operation Coast to Coast” was conducted across 15 states, resulting in 34 arrests and the recovery of 77 survivors, including two teenage girls, officials said.
In California, the investigation focused on National City, where undercover personnel with the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force responded to online sex advertisements that were believed to involve minors.
Meetings were arranged at local hotels, where the officers contacted the two underage victims — both teenage girls — and 13 women.
All 15 of them were offered resources and support services. No arrests took place in San Diego County.
“The objective of Operation Coast to Coast is to maximize impact by working together to increase the total number of human trafficking investigations and prosecutions nationwide, to hold perpetrators of human trafficking accountable, and support survivors along the way,” said the Filipino American attorney general.
“It is vital that we carry out our goal in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally competent.
That’s why our special agents receive specialized training and experience to appropriately handle these cases with the sensitivity, compassion, and the care they deserve,” Bonta added. “I am thankful for these strong national partnerships and look forward to all that we can accomplish when we work together.”
Information and resources to support survivors of human trafficking is available here.
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