During this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, a major human trafficking operation led to the arrest of 14 individuals and the rescue of 10 victims. The convention, which ran from July 25 to July 28 and attracted about 100,000 attendees, has become a target for traffickers looking to exploit large crowds.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the arrests, emphasizing that traffickers exploit high-profile events like Comic-Con to profit from their victims. He stated, “These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated.” The operation was conducted by California’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which targeted both traffickers and buyers at the convention.

Undercover officers played a significant role in the operation by posing as sex buyers to identify victims and apprehend traffickers. Additionally, they posted fake ads soliciting sex to capture potential buyers. As a result, 14 sex buyers were arrested, and nine adult victims were rescued alongside one 16-year-old minor. All victims were offered social services to assist in their recovery.

The operation received praise from local law enforcement, with San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez highlighting the gravity of human trafficking. Sheriff Martinez expressed appreciation for the focus on identifying and rescuing victims during the convention, labeling human trafficking as “insidious.”

The global human trafficking crisis is immense, with an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time, according to the U.S. Department of State. In the United States, over 2,000 individuals were referred to U.S. attorneys for human trafficking offenses in 2021, with arrests doubling from 2011 to 2021. This operation at Comic-Con underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.