14 sex buyers arrested, 10 victims recovered in human trafficking sting at Comic-Con
Fourteen people were arrested and 10 victims were rescued in a human sex trafficking sting at San Diego Comic-Con Convention.
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a three-day operation ahead of the weekend bust, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release on Tuesday, adding that among those rescued was a 16-year-old girl.
"Unfortunately, sex traffickers capitalize on large-scale events such as Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit," Bonta said in a statement. "These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated."
Officers worked undercover as sex buyers
Law enforcement officers went undercover as sex buyers to identify and arrest traffickers, as well as find potential victims, according to the attorney general's officers.
Undercover police also posted ads seeking sex as part of the operation.
The comic book and pop culture event that concluded Sunday takes place at the San Diego Convention Center every summer, drawing over 100,000 people.
"When people use these events as an opportunity to prey upon minors, (Homeland Security Investigations) HSI and our law enforcement partners will find you and bring you before a court of law to face criminal charges," Christopher Davis, acting special agent in charge for HSI San Diego, said in a statement. "There is no place for alleged predators to operate in our city."