Statewide human trafficking sting in California results in more than 500 arrests, dozens of rescued victims

 California's 10th annual Operation Reclaim and Rebuild was a success, resulting in 539 arrests and 65 total rescued victims.

A law enforcement program designed to clean up the Golden State of child traffickers, this year's Operation Reclaim and Rebuild involved 95 federal, state and local agencies, including personnel from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, which together helped save the lives of 54 adults and 11 juveniles.

At a press conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that, of the 539 arrests, 40 are suspected "sexual traffickers and exploiters" and 271 are suspected "sex buyers." It was not announced how many of the arrests were made in Los Angeles County.

"Human trafficking and child exploitation are devastating crimes that prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our community," Luna said, noting that one of the victims rescued is a 14-year-old girl.

"This week-long operation demonstrates that if you engage in human trafficking activities, harm our children and destroy lives, there will be absolute consequences; and there is no refuge for predators in the state of California."

Luna was joined at the news conference by LA County District Attorney George Gascón, as well as representatives from the LAPD, the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and various other government agencies.

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Propositioned by a potential predator? Call the police

One of the rescues occurred along a stretch of Holt Avenue in Pomona where 12 males, two of whom are registered sex offenders, were arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution.

Another occurred in San Diego County where a 17-year-old girl at Plaza Parkway Mall in El Cajon was approached by a man who told her she "should be a model" before proceeding to give her a business card with his phone number on it. The girl called the number, only to be told that she would actually be "doing date sex with guys at hotels."

Frightened by the proposal, the girl told her mother, who proceeded to contact the authorities. The suspect who propositioned the girl was later arrested on suspicion of human trafficking of a minor, as well as other offenses.

"My wife and I, with kids, went to a Walmart one time and my wife noticed two guys following my wife and daughter around for about 30 minutes straight," wrote someone on X in response to the story. "After she told me, I notified Walmart security and walked behind my family, giving the guys indication not to try anything. Be aware."

"But the activist propagandists posing as 'journalists' keep calling child trafficking a QAnon conspiracy," wrote another, referencing stories in which we reported on a story in the The Atlantic that claims child sex trafficking is "fake" and not really happening.

"Time to lay off some activists."

Another wrote that, as good as this news might sound, it is just a drop in the bucket compared to the sheer number of traffickers and trafficking victims that are still out there.

"Believe it or not, there are still much bigger fish to fry," this person said.