56 Human Traffickers Arrested in Orange County Sting Operation

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Fifty-six believes were jailed in a human trafficking sting operation collaborated in early February, Orange County law enforcement authorities revealed on Feb. 18.

Called “Operation Red Zone,” the arrests consistedof males ages 20 to 55 from both Orange and Los Angeles Counties on charges consistingof human trafficking, pimping and pandering, solicitation for sex, and narcotics.

Authorities saved 16 victims in the operation, consistingof 2 kids under the age of 16.

“We sentout a message loud and clear that human trafficking will be fulfilled with swift action in Orange County,” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes stated in a declaration. “Through inter-department partnership, we released significant investigative resources throughout the county and were able to make a considerable number of arrests. Most significantly 2 young victims haveactually been brought to security and resources were used to other victims.”

The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center collaborated the operation in collaboration with 11 regional law enforcement companies, as well as the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The firms went undercover to examine “online-based sex solicitation sites” and other “known troublesome services” in order to catch the males, according to the constable’s department. Each company madeuseof investigative strategies alotof impactful for their city.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer cautioned other human traffickers to stay out of Orange County.

“Proactive examinations like this enable law enforcement firms to contact susceptible victims of sex trafficking who may have otherwise neverever been able to escape their traffickers and get important victim services that can assistance them recover and every arrest we make and every case we file serves as a message to human traffickers allover: puton’t come to Orange County,” Spitzer stated in a declaration.

The victims were consequently linked with Waymakers, a victim-assistance program that supplies crisis intervention consistingof shelter, transport, and other needs to human trafficking victims.

Participating in Operation Red Zone companies consistedof the authorities departments of Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Santa Ana, Westminster, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.