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While the crowds at San Diego Comic-Con were trying to get into panels or find the latest collectibles, the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force had more important goals during the event. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has revealed that a massive anti-human trafficking operation was conducted at San Diego Comic-Con that led to 14 arrests.
Bonta made the announcement through California’s official news site, which noted that nine potential adult victims and a 16-year-old girl were rescued during the sting. Police and other personnel pretended to be sex buyers to catch the catch the suspects in the alleged act. Law-enforcement officers also posted ads that solicited sex in order to lure out and arrest sex buyers.
In his statement, Bonta noted that sex traffickers often “capitalize on large scale events such as Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit.” San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez added that “There is no more insidious crime than human trafficking. The coercion and violence which enslaves people for profit and places them into forced labor or sex is criminal. As the Sheriff I support the efforts of all our justice partners in holding perpetrators accountable. I appreciate the focus that was placed on the recent convention to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.”
There was no mention in the announcement of whether Comic-Con officials were aware of the sting, or the identities of the 14 people who were arrested. Comic-Con annually attracts well over 100,000 people to San Diego, and it is one of the biggest comic conventions in the country.
