RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A series of law enforcement operations throughout Riverside County targeting people seeking or engaged in illicit sexual services netted 38 arrests, authorities said today.
The county’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force joined other agencies statewide in “Operation Reclaim & Rebuild,” with the goal of cracking down on individuals allegedly involved in prostitution rings and escort services, most of them based online, as well as rescuing the victims.
The operation ran Feb. 6-10 in Riverside County, with identical sweeps taking place in other jurisdictions statewide, according to Sgt. Jose Tijerina of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
“The initiative focuses on rescuing victims of sexual slavery and human trafficking, identifying and arresting their captors, and disrupting demand for these vulnerable victims,” Tijerina said.
Arrests were made in La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Palm Desert, Riverside, San Jacinto and Temecula, he said.
Most of the individuals apprehended in the county operation were booked on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution, though one was additionally taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance, and another was nabbed for possession of a loaded firearm, officials said.
“Task force members also made contact with two adult females believed to be victims of sex trafficking,” Tijerina said. “Investigations led the task force to believe these subjects were being forced to engage in acts of prostitution against their will.”
The women, whose identities were not disclosed, were referred to agencies that could provide assistance with leaving the illicit sex trade, according to the sergeant.
“Prostitution is not a victimless crime,” he said. “Those victimized by commercial sexual exploitation frequently have long histories of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates one in six endangered runaways are likely victims of sex trafficking.”
No minors were taken into custody or placed in protective care within the county as a result of the Operation Reclaim & Rebuild, which was conducted as part of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
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CNS-02-17-2022 11:58
