A total of 37 minors between the ages of 14 and 17, who had been identified as missing, were rescued during Operation "Safe Return" in Riverside County, where seven suspected criminals were also arrested.

To determine the possible location of the victims, a multidisciplinary team, composed of law enforcement officers and social services personnel, went to the area to search for them.

The recovery operation included locations in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. Some of the missing children were also located in Northern California, Arizona, and Nevada, but have since been returned to their legal guardians. The operation ran from March 2 to 6. Of the more than 50 children reported missing, 37 were rescued, and 13 cases remain under investigation. The operation was led by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Riverside County Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies. Victim advocacy and community safety groups also collaborated. “Each child received victim advocacy services, medical support when needed, and follow-up resources before being reunited with a legal guardian,” the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. “Unfortunately, some of these children were identified as victims of various crimes, ranging from child sex trafficking to sexual assault.” The rescue of the trafficking victims involved collaboration between federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the California Department of Justice (DOJ). “We will never cease fighting to protect California’s children and bring them home. Thanks to the close collaboration between state and federal authorities, we were able to identify, locate, and safely recover 37 vulnerable children, while also holding those responsible for their exploitation accountable,” said State Attorney Rob Bonta in a statement.“Finding missing children and bringing them home safe and sound is one of the most important things we can do,” he added, while indicating that they will continue working with their law enforcement partners to protect children, support families, and ensure the safety of all children in California. The coordinated effort also resulted in the arrest of seven suspects. Operation Safe Return focused on locating missing children at greatest risk by investigating cases registered in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) police database. “Some individuals arrested during the operation have been booked into Riverside County jails, while two were incarcerated in Los Angeles County jails,” Deirdre Vickers, spokesperson for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, told La Opinion. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) leads three anti-trafficking teams statewide: the Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the Fresno Human Trafficking Sex Predator Apprehension Team, and the San Diego County Human Trafficking Task Force. California ranks first in cases. Human trafficking involves the sexual or labor exploitation of people through force, fraud, or coercion. While the perception While it is common for human trafficking to occur primarily in other countries, it is a significant problem in the United States. Across the United States, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported that in 2024, 11,999 cases of human trafficking were identified, involving 21,865 victims. A single case could involve multiple victims. The hotline receives reports of situations involving sex trafficking, labor trafficking, sex and labor trafficking, as well as situations where the type of trafficking may be unknown or unspecified. Of the 11,999 victims identified, 6,647 were related to sex trafficking; 2,220 to labor trafficking; and 1,360 to labor and sexual victimization. According to statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2024 California led with 1,733 identified cases, followed by Texas (1,360 cases). Florida (832); New York (570) and Illinois (385)

“Traffickers often target people who are already vulnerable due to circumstances such as poverty, housing instability, or other risk factors,” said State Attorney Rob Bonta.

If convicted, the seven jailed individuals, whose identities were not released by authorities,They could face significant prison sentences under state or federal law. The exact penalties will depend on the charges filed and the circumstances of each case, and sentences are ultimately determined by the courts.

“All children deserve to be safe, protected, and have the opportunity to live a life free from exploitation. California will continue to support victims and survivors, protect the most vulnerable, and do everything possible to ensure that all children return home safely,” stated Governor Gavin Newsom.

“I thank our allies in law enforcement who worked tirelessly to locate these missing children, support survivors of trafficking, and hold accountable those responsible for harming our children.”

A Federal Arrest and Criminal Law

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of authorities, the 37 children who were rescued received victim advocacy services, medical support when needed, and follow-up resources before being reunited with their legal guardian.

“Unfortunately, some of these children They were identified as victims of various crimes, from child sex trafficking to sexual assault,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. “The operation resulted in seven arrests, including one federal arrest for child sex trafficking, made by Homeland Security Investigations.” The maximum penalty for child trafficking in California is 15 years to life in state prison, especially when the crime involves force, fraud, or coercion. Due to recent legislative changes (including SB 14, effective January 1, 2024), child trafficking is classified as a felony, making it a serious offense under California’s Three Crimes Act, with penalties of up to 25 years to life for repeat offenders. “These monsters who abused the children should never get out of jail,” said criminal defense attorney Michael Carrillo. “If any of the victims are under 14 years old, the criminals could even face life imprisonment. That’s what they deserve, because if they are granted parole in the future, they will commit their crimes again.”

Zero tolerance for child exploitation

Patricia Thomas, captain of the Special Victims Office of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, told La Opinion that the message for those criminals who take advantage of innocent children and sexually exploit them is very clear: “Zero tolerance for child exploitation.”

“Those who prey on vulnerable children should know that the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (LARHTTF) and other law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to identify suspects, thoroughly investigate their crimes, and hold them accountable. Exploited children are victims, not criminals. They deserve protection, support, and the opportunity to heal. We focus on rescuing these children, connecting them with services, and ensuring they know they are not alone.”

She emphasized that the lessons learned from the 12th annual “Operation Recover and Rebuild” in Los Angeles County, which took place in early February in Los Angeles and across California, resulting in the rescue of 170 trafficking victims and more than 600 arrests, reinforce the need for everyone to work together to stop human trafficking.

“These operations raise public awareness of the rampant human trafficking situation in our “communities,” she said. “They remind us of the importance of collaboration between the public, service providers, and law enforcement.” She added that the success, reflected in the numbers [of rescued victims and arrested criminals], demonstrates the importance of multi-agency collaboration. “It also highlights our victim-centered approach,” she stated. “We understand that rescued individuals have experienced significant trauma. Ensuring they receive immediate attention, counseling, shelter, and long-term care empowers them, so they know they are not alone.” Finally, she expressed that consistent law enforcement and proactive investigations make all the difference. “Our goal is to curb the demand and, once again, send a strong message that these crimes will not be tolerated and that everyone can contribute.” What legal tools does the LASD use to combat these crimes against children in Los Angeles County? Is there a special group of detectives that investigates these crimes?

“The LASD Office of Special Victims oversees the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (LARHTTF). The LARHTTF is comprised of victim service provider Saving Innocence, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California,” she responded.

In addition, the LARHTTF shares offices with members of the Department of Children and Family Services, as well as investigators from local law enforcement agencies and victim service providers, ensuring ongoing collaboration.

LARHTTF investigators receive advanced training to recognize indicators of trafficking,"The LARHTTF works year-round combating human trafficking-related crimes through information sharing, tracking offenders, and conducting operations," Thomas told La Opinion. “LARHTTF investigators work closely with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to pursue the prosecution of perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Close collaboration with victim service providers ensures that rescued children receive the protection and resources they need while the investigation proceeds and helps them move toward healing and recovery.”

Where to report human trafficking:

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888.

To send texts, download the app: Text*233733

To chat online: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/chat

If you are afraid and in imminent danger: call 911 for an immediate response.

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