Riverside County authorities identified more than 50 missing children and rescued 37 of them through a week-long anti-human trafficking operation, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told NBC Los Angeles Friday.
Operation Safe Return located teens between the ages of 14 and 17 in Riverside County as well as Northern California, Nevada and Arizona. Among them, 37 children were safely rescued, Bianco said.
“Our sex trafficking is through hotels events and apps online,” Bianco said, explaining human trafficking works differently in Riverside County.
Some of the rescued teens became victims of child sex trafficking and sex assault, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
The operation was able to bring the 37 children home thanks to collaborations with federal and more than a dozen local law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol.
“All of the kids had something to do with Riverside County,” Bianco said.
The sheriff added each rescued child will receive victim advocacy services, medical support and follow-up resources.
The operation led to seven arrests, including one person who was arrested by Homeland Security investigators for alleged child sex trafficking.
Bianco, who is running for California governor in November, said stopping human trafficking and rescuing victims can be made possibly by the public’s help.
“We want license plate numbers, descriptions and pictures. And we follow up on every lead because you never know what we are going to find ,” the sheriff said.
If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking in Riverside County, please contact RCAHT.
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