Crime & Safety

Massive Child Sex Trafficking Raid Leads To Arrests Across SoCal

Six Southern California children were among dozens of children and hundreds of adults rescued in a nationwide human trafficking crackdown.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Dozens of children and hundreds more victims of human trafficking were rescued in a nationwide series of ongoing raids including several arrests and rescues across Southern California, the FBI announced this week.

The FBI and local police agencies teamed up to rescue six adolescents and 25 potential human trafficking victims across Southern California as part of “Operation Cross Country.” Nationwide, the sexual exploitation crackdown netted at least 85 suspects facing charges of human trafficking or the sexual exploitation of children, according to the FBI. The task force rescued more than 225 victims around the nation, including 84 minors.

“Human trafficking and child exploitation are insidious crimes, and the impact on victims is immeasurable,” said Amir Ehsaei, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Division. “However, with strong partnerships forged between outstanding service providers and law enforcement, we can ensure victims receive the services they need, and the perpetrators of such unspeakable activity are brought to justice.”

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Thirty-seven of the child victims rescued were actively reported missing. The average age of victims rescued during the operation was 15.5, according to the FBI. The youngest victim was 11 years old.

"Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes the FBI encounters," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Unfortunately, such crimes — against both adults and children — are far more common than most people realize."

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The high-profile operation is just a snapshot of the work being done year-round, said Supervisory Special Agent Amanda Detterline of the FBI's Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Squad, Los Angeles.

It's also a reminder for parents to be vigilant about monitoring their children's online activities because the Internet "opens the world up to traffickers" said Detterline.

"This can happen to any child, particularly if they have some time of vulnerability," she said. "Traffickers are very good at exploiting their victim's vulnerability."

The chief thing, parents can do to protect their children is to monitor their online activity.

"Monitor your child's use of phone," said Detterline. "Watch what they are doing with apps and social media."

Often young victims of traffickers lack supportive, positive role models in their own lives, making them susceptible to the manipulation and exploitation of traffickers. But there are ways to help protect those children too, said Detterline.

"Be a good role model, a mentor, neighbor and community member," Detterline added.

This week's raids were part of Operation Cross Country's 12th year.

“This year’s operation underscores the FBI’s commitment to protecting the communities we serve from those who seek to victimize the most vulnerable among us,” saidEhsaei.
The operation began by identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and busting up the trafficking rings that exploited them.

With a focus on child sex trafficking and human trafficking, Operation Cross Country involved FBI Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Victim Specialists, and Child Adolescent Forensic Interviewers working with more than 200 state, local, and federal partners and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children over a two-week period.

The FBI has not publicly identified the suspects.

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