Due to its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, states such as California experience a wide range of crimes tied to trafficking. One of the most serious is human trafficking, which accounts for hundreds of cases each year.
Some of the most recent cases involving human trafficking occurred earlier this month, when an annual task force dedicated to locating victims rescued 19 individuals and arrested four men connected to the operation.
As reported by Fox 5 San Diego, a multi-agency operation conducted between Dec. 10 and 12 at motels in Chula Vista, National City and San Diego rescued nearly 20 victims of sexual exploitation. During the operation, officers worked undercover as buyers and responded to online advertisements to identify both victims and those exploiting them.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said the results of the annual "Home for the Holidays" operation also led to the arrest of a sex offender on charges including pimping, pandering and violating a protective order. In addition, six misdemeanor citations were issued to people accused of attempting to buy sex. If convicted, those arrested could face sentences ranging from six to 20 years in prison.
"The ugly truth is that sex trafficking remains a lucrative criminal industry fueled by demand, generating more than $810 million a year in San Diego County," Stephan said. She praised law enforcement and victim advocates for working together to recover victims, some as young as 12, and for holding traffickers and buyers accountable. "Law enforcement will not tolerate this modern-day slavery of vulnerable victims who are bought and sold like a slice of pizza," she added.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1,733 cases of human trafficking were reported in California in 2024, involving 3,603 victims. California accounted for nearly 15% of all cases reported nationwide that year, while states along the U.S.-Mexico border represented nearly 29% of all U.S. cases.
As noted by Fox 5 San Diego, the "Home for the Holidays" operation is part of a yearly, multi-jurisdictional effort aimed at identifying trafficking victims, connecting them with support services, arresting traffickers and reducing demand for commercial sex.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the operation a critical part of keeping communities safe during the holidays and throughout the year. "Together, we will continue to disrupt human trafficking operations and achieve meaningful results that uplift vulnerable Californians," he said.
The Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the California Department of Justice and includes local, state and federal agencies across San Diego County. Officials say the task force conducts similar operations throughout the year.
Over the past four years, "Home for the Holidays" operations have resulted in 23 arrests, 65 victims rescued, including two juveniles, and the recovery of three firearms. In 2024, task force operations recovered 47 juveniles, and in 2025, 62 juveniles have been recovered to date, according to the District Attorney's Office.
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