Fourteen individuals were arrested, and ten victims were rescued, including a 16-year-old girl, during a sting operation at the San Diego Comic-Con Convention. The operation, conducted by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, took place over three days leading up to the event, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Tuesday.

It’s yet to be determined how many of those arrested were consenting adults.

Those against these types of undercover operations say things like, “There is no actual evidence that any type of event increases trafficking, and this myth has been debunked repeatedly. What actually causes forced labor to spike? Homelessness, poverty, wage theft, restrictive immigration laws – and criminalization of sex work.”

And that’s a valid point, as there was a similar ordeal in a recent Super Bowl where the only people arrested were consenting adults, yet they called the operation a win for sex traffickers.

There is a difference between the two. Sex trafficking involves force, fraud, or coercion to compel someone to perform sexual labor. Prostitution is an exchange of money for sexual activity and can be voluntary. 

The task force at Comic-Con, working undercover, posed as sex buyers to identify and apprehend traffickers while simultaneously locating potential victims. Undercover officers also posted ads seeking sex as part of their strategy to expose and dismantle trafficking networks exploiting the large-scale Comic-Con event, which draws over 100,000 attendees each summer to the San Diego Convention Center.

“Unfortunately, sex traffickers capitalize on large-scale events such as Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit,” Attorney General Bonta stated. “These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated.”

Christopher Davis, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego, emphasized the commitment of the joint effort to protect vulnerable individuals.

“When people use these events as an opportunity to prey upon minors, HSI and our law enforcement partners will find you and bring you before a court of law to face criminal charges,” Davis asserted. “There is no place for alleged predators to operate in our city.”

San Diego Comic-Con is a major annual event that celebrates comic books, pop culture, and entertainment, attracting a vast and diverse crowd. However, such large gatherings can also provide opportunities for criminal activities, including human trafficking. The recent operation underscores the importance of vigilance and proactive measures in ensuring the safety of attendees and the broader community.

The operation highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking, a pervasive issue that has been increasingly linked to large public events. This sting is part of a broader strategy to address and mitigate the risks associated with such gatherings, ensuring that those who seek to exploit vulnerable individuals are held accountable.

Timeline of Recent Events

• Early July 2024: The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force begins undercover operations to target traffickers and identify potential victims.
• Mid-July 2024: Undercover officers post ads and pose as sex buyers to expose trafficking networks.
• July 20-22, 2024: The three-day operation intensifies leading up to the weekend, culminating in multiple arrests and rescues.
• July 23, 2024: Attorney General Rob Bonta announces the operation’s results, detailing the arrests and the rescue of ten victims, including a minor.