California Attorney General Announces Operation Trick R Treat Results: 42 Sex Buyers Arrested, 27 Victims Recovered
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in Sacramento on November 5 the results of the 5th Annual Operation Trick R Treat. Led by the Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (SRHTTF) together with 12 other participating agencies, the operation targeted the purchasing of commercial sex — and ultimately human trafficking — in and around Sacramento County, California: through 17 operations conducted between October 19 and October 31, officers arrested 42 sex buyers, made 7 additional arrests for other human trafficking related violations, and recovered 27 victims.
"The California Department of Justice is committed to protecting individuals against sex trafficking networks that seek to exploit them, and we will continue to support survivors who have been manipulated by these systems," Bonta said. "My office will not tolerate those who engage in sexual exploitation and enable human trafficking. I am thankful for the joint efforts of our local law enforcement agencies and partner organizations, who through this operation, have once again shown all we can accomplish for our communities when we work side by side." Sacramento Police Department Interim Chief Zachary Bales said human trafficking is a serious issue that requires a coordinated response and called the operation a great example of agencies and community partners working toward a common goal. Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said human trafficking is a predatory crime that crosses every jurisdictional line and that his office remains steadfast in strengthening the partnerships needed to pursue those who exploit others.
Operation Trick R Treat is part of a broader regional strategy to tackle sexual exploitation and human trafficking by addressing the demand for commercial sex services, using strategic enforcement based on monitoring of identified locations and undercover officers. The SRHTTF is a collaborative effort comprised of the California Department of Justice, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, the Sacramento Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Justice said its human trafficking task forces have made 1,235 arrests and recovered and supported 1,248 victims since 2021. Anyone being coerced to take part in an activity and unable to leave can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 for help and services; anyone in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.
(Source: California Attorney General's Office)
Source: California Attorney General's Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Sacramento 的加州总检察长办公室大楼。Coolcaesar 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons（GSM 加州固定图库）。 / Photo: The California Attorney General's office building in Sacramento. Photo by Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (GSM California fixed library).
