Napa Helps Rescue Women, Children In Human Trafficking Sting

NAPA VALLEY, CA — Napa County investigators helped rescue nearly two dozen women and arrest 10 suspects during a weeklong, multi-agency human trafficking operation.

Authorities across California fanned out across the state for five days as part of the initiative, called “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild,” which authorities say led the rescue of nearly 200 victims, including 14 children, one as young as 13.

In the Bay Area, detectives from the Benicia Police Department coordinated local stings targeting human trafficking victims, traffickers, sex workers, and buyers with the Napa County Investigative Bureau, Vacaville Police Department, Suisun City Police Department, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office.

Benicia detectives conducted a covert operation on Jan. 26 in the city, rescuing four victims of human trafficking, arresting two suspects for pimping and pandering, and seizing two firearms, according to the Benicia Police Department.

Similar operations continued across Solano County during the week, resulting in a total of 21 women rescued and 10 arrests related to pimping, pandering, and the purchase of sex workers, Benicia police said.

Authorities also seized firearms and other weapons during the annual sting operation, authorities said. Investigations remain ongoing.Authorities statewide reported that this year’s Reclaim and Rebuild operation involved more than 80 federal, state, and local agencies and task forces, resulting in 611 arrests and 170 victims rescued, including 14 teenagers.

The Los Angeles Police Department leads the annual statewide initiative in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, nonprofit organizations, and Homeland Security Investigations, the primary investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, authorities said.