105 Arrested In San Diego County During Statewide Anti-Sex Trafficking Sting

SAN DIEGO, CA — A statewide anti-sex trafficking operation resulted in dozens of arrests across San Diego County, authorities announced Monday.

Operation Stand on Demand took place Jan. 19-24 across multiple counties throughout California with the goal of arresting sex buyers, helping trafficking victims and arresting traffickers.

As a result of the operation, 120 people were arrested across the state, including 87 for loitering, 25 for solicitation, and eight for pimping and pandering. Authorities said 105 of those arrests took place in the county.

"This Human Trafficking Awareness month, the California Department of Justice spearheaded a statewide operation to protect the public and take a stand against the demand for sex trafficking — by holding perpetrators of human trafficking accountable and supporting survivors along the way," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

"It is vital that we carry out our goal in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally competent. That's why our task force members receive specialized training and experience to appropriately handle these cases with the sensitivity, compassion, and the care they deserve."

More than 18 law enforcement agencies participated in the joint effort, which targeted sex buyers through the use of surveillance and deployment of undercover officers.

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said the sex and human trafficking industries generate hundreds of millions in illicit profit each year in the county.

"I am proud of the work being done by the San Diego Regional Human Trafficking Task Force with the support of Attorney General Bonta and his agency, my office's Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division, and our dedicated partners who work around the clock to reduce demand and rescue victims — some as young as 12," she said.