474 arrested, 28 sexually exploited children rescued during statewide human-trafficking operation: LASD
02/01/2017 4:50 pm PST
By Tracy Bloom, KTLA
LOS ANGELES -- (KTLA) -- Hundreds of people were arrested and dozens of sexually exploited children and adult victims were rescued across California during a statewide operation to combat human trafficking, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced Tuesday.
More than 30 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and task forces, as well as the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, participated in the third annual “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild” enforcement operation, according to a sheriff's news release.
The statewide operation took place over the three-day period between last Thursday and Saturday.
In total, 474 arrests were made, including 142 males on solicitation charges, and 36 males on suspicion of pimping, according to figures provided by the Sheriff's Department.
Additionally, 28 commercially, sexually exploited children and 27 adult victims were rescued.
The minors who recovered during the operation were being cared for by various Department of Children and Family Services Agencies across the state, according to sheriff's officials. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking and Saving Innocence organizations were coordinating efforts to help victims in L.A. County.
