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Law enforcement officials have dismantled a massive commercial sex operation spanning multiple California counties following a yearlong investigation. The operation culminated in the arrests of two individuals accused of managing more than 30 brothel locations across the state.
On Monday, authorities announced that Kebin Dong, 38, and Wei Nei, 40, were taken into custody at their Hacienda Heights home last Thursday. The pair allegedly operated a website openly advertising sex services and managed profiles of more than 60 women believed to be commercial sex workers, according to NewsNation.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office, which led the investigation, executed search warrants at several suspected brothel locations in Ventura and Los Angeles counties this past week. Investigators say Dong and Nei coordinated appointments between sex buyers and workers at various residential and hotel locations throughout California.
Both suspects face charges of pimping, pandering, and conspiracy. They were booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with bail set at $200,000 each.
Human trafficking remains one of the world's fastest-growing criminal enterprises. The California Attorney General's Office estimates it to be a $150 billion annual global industry, while the International Labor Organization reports that more than 24.9 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking at any given time.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of victims involved in this operation or whether additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.