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A massive statewide human trafficking crackdown in California has resulted in more than 600 arrests and the rescue of 170 victims, including 14 children as young as 13, authorities announced Wednesday.
The week-long "Operation Reclaim and Rebuild," conducted during the final week of January, brought together 80 local, state, and federal agencies targeting both traffickers and sex buyers across California, with a significant focus on Los Angeles County.
"Human trafficking and child exploitation are devastating crimes that target the most vulnerable amongst us," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 71 suspected traffickers and 328 sex buyers, with officials describing the number of customer arrests as "stunning." Authorities also seized multiple weapons during the sting.
According to officials, the investigation began with a single citizen complaint about a suspected residential brothel in Walnut, which led to months of surveillance and the discovery of several other brothels in the area.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton highlighted the far-reaching nature of the trafficking network, noting that victims were brought to California from multiple states. "We have traffickers that are putting barely teenage girls on the streets of Los Angeles to be victimized, repeatedly, over and over again," Hamilton said. "These children did not come from one place. They came from Chicago, from Oklahoma, from Missouri, tribal lands... and from communities right here in the state of California."
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described human trafficking as "a multibillion-dollar industry" and "nothing less than modern slavery." He called for stronger legislation, criticizing current state laws that don't classify trafficking of adults as a serious, violent felony.
"I would ask our state leaders who created the felony dealing with minors involved with human sex trafficking, to also go ahead and make all of human and sex trafficking a violent and serious offense," Hochman urged.
The district attorney also proposed creating a sex buyer registry website, similar to the sex-offender program, that would publish information about those convicted of paying for sex to deter future offenses.
Beyond law enforcement actions, the operation emphasized connecting survivors with support services. Various organizations are working with the task force to provide assistance ranging from emergency care to long-term recovery services.
"Survivors need care. They need time, they need a chance to rebuild their lives," Hamilton said, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with service organizations in helping victims recover.
Officials stressed that while this operation showed significant results, their efforts to combat human trafficking continue year-round. "This is 365," Hochman said. "It did not end in January. We're going to continue to prosecute these cases the entire year."