13 Arrested In Anti-Sex Trafficking Sting During San Diego Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO, CA — Thirteen people were arrested in an anti-human trafficking sting held during Comic-Con International in San Diego, officials announced Thursday.

The three-day operation was conducted from July 24-26 by law enforcement officers working undercover "to initiate contact with sex buyers throughout San Diego County," according to the California Attorney General's Office. The 13 people were arrested on suspicion of solicitation.

"My office is proud of the dedicated work of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force on this demand reduction operation," Attorney General Rob Bonta said. "Solicitation is a crime, and these arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that we stand ready to hold them accountable."

The operation is conducted annually during Comic-Con weekend. As a result of last year's operation, 14 sex buyers were arrested and 10 potential victims of sex trafficking were recovered and offered services, including a 16-year-old girl, according to the California Attorney General's Office.

The operation was conducted by the multi-agency San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, composed of federal and state law enforcement agencies and prosecutorial offices.

"The demand for commercial sex is a driving factor that contributes to human trafficking, where perpetrators profit from the exploitation of people for sex or labor by force, fraud, or coercion," Bonta said. "We are grateful to all our dedicated partners involved in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, whose collaboration has been invaluable."