56 People Arrested In Orange County On Human Trafficking Charges

SANTA ANA, CA — More than 50 people were arrested in Orange County this month as part of a coordinated effort by several police agencies to target human trafficking operations in the area.

The effort, dubbed "Operation Red Zone," resulted in the arrest of 56 people accused of participating in human trafficking between Feb. 9 and Saturday, the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center announced Friday. Authorities said 16 victims were rescued, including two people younger than 16.

The arrested men, who were not identified, ranged in age from 20 to 55 and hailed from Orange and Los Angeles counties, according to a statement from the center. The charges against the group included pimping and pandering, solicitation for sex and human trafficking, authorities said.

Undercover operations, investigations into businesses known for trafficking and investigations into "online-based sex solicitation websites" were used to arrest the men, authorities said.

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the coordinated effort sent a message "loud and clear" in Orange County that any human trafficking that happens "will be met with swift action."

"Through interdepartment collaboration, we deployed substantial investigative resources across the county and were able to make a significant number of arrests," he said. "Most importantly, two young victims have been brought to safety, and resources were offered to other victims."

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement that every arrest made in a human trafficking case "prevents vulnerable victims from ever becoming trafficking victims."

The agencies that participated in Operation Red Zone included the following.

• Anaheim Police Department.
• Buena Park Police Department.
• Costa Mesa Police Department.
• Fountain Valley Police Department.
• Fullerton Police Department.
• Huntington Beach Police Department.
• Irvine Police Department.
• Laguna Beach Police Department.
• Orange County Sheriff's Department.
• Santa Ana Police Department.
• Westminster Police Department.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Orange County District Attorney's Office were also a part of the operation, the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center said.

Anyone who suspected human trafficking was occurring in his or her community or was a victim of it was asked to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or to send an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.