17 Contra Costa Trafficking Victims ID'd In Super Bowl, Pre-FIFA World Cup Stings

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Authorities found 17 human-trafficking victims and arrested seven suspected traffickers in Contra Costa County during a regional crackdown during the lead up to the Super Bowl and in advance of the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches.

The Contra Costa cases were part of operations across 11 Bay Area counties that authorities said started two weeks before the Super Bowl and that will expand ahead of the World Cup matches scheduled at Levi's Stadium between June 13 and July 1.

Nearly 70 agencies joined in the 2-week effort organized by the regional Human Trafficking Task Force, which set up a centralized command center in Sunnyvale to analyze tips and coordinate field investigations in real time, according to a statement from the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

Authorities arrested 29 traffickers and found 73 sex trafficking victims, including 10 minors. One of the victims, who was being trafficked in Oakland, was 12 years old, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said in the statement.

“Beyond football, the Super Bowl was a triumph of Bay Area law enforcement planning, organization, cooperation, and safety,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Human trafficking is not a game, it’s a tragedy. However, our team was very successful. Close to 70 agencies effectively discouraged traffickers from exploiting the game and victims.”

The task force coordinated 67 agencies from Sacramento to Monterey, including local, state, and federal investigators, as well as nonprofit partners such as In Our Backyard and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

More than 20 analysts staffed the Sunnyvale command center, working alongside field agents to process leads and conduct investigations that officials said typically take weeks, but were completed in minutes using an enhanced Human Trafficking Tactical Operations Center.

Across the region, investigators launched nearly 40 operations, identifying 20 victims in San Mateo County. Additional arrests were reported in Monterey County and Solano County. In Santa Clara County, authorities identified seven victims, arrested two suspected traffickers, and seized a firearm.

Officials said similar coordinated enforcement efforts are being planned as international visitors begin arriving for World Cup matches next summer.