14 arrested in human trafficking sting at San Diego Comic Con

Aug 01, 2024

Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Zachary Hill (Editor )

The fictitious world of superheroes and comic books intersected with the harsh realities of the actual world as authorities set up a human trafficking sting operation at the San Diego Comic Con. The operation led to the arrest of 14 sex trafficking suspects.

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Officials also recovered 10 victims — nine adults and a 16-year-old girl.

With more than 100,000 pop culture fans gathering for the annual convention, officials said it made a desirable destination for sex traffickers who capitalize on large-scale events to exploit their victims for profit.

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The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force’s operation involved law enforcement personnel working undercover as sex buyers to identify and contact potential victims and arrest their traffickers.

“There is no more insidious crime than human trafficking,” San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez said in a statement.

Martinez thanked authorities for the focus that was placed on Comic Con to identify and rescue the victims.

Authorities said adult and juvenile support advocates were on the scene to provide help to the 10 victims as needed.

Tags: California, sex trafficking, Trafficking

[JACK AYLMER]

THE FICTITIOUS WORLD OF SUPERHEROES AND COMIC BOOKS INTERSECTED WITH THE HARSH REALITIES OF THE ACTUAL WORLD AS AUTHORITIES SET UP A HUMAN TRAFFICKING STING OPERATION AT LAST WEEKEND’S SAN DIEGO COMIC CON.

THE OPERATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF 14 SEX TRAFFICKING SUSPECTS.

OFFICIALS ALSO RECOVERING 10 VICTIMS – NINE ADULTS AND A 16 YEAR OLD GIRL.

WITH MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND POP CULTURE FANS GATHERING FOR THE ANNUAL CONVENTION — OFFICIALS SAY IT MADE A DESIRABLE DESTINATION FOR SEX TRAFFICKERS WHO CAPITALIZE ON LARGE-SCALE EVENTS TO EXPLOIT THEIR VICTIMS FOR PROFIT.

THE SAN DIEGO HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE’S OPERATION INVOLVED LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WORKING UNDERCOVER AS SEX BUYERS TO IDENTIFY AND CONTACT POTENTIAL VICTIMS AND ARREST THEIR TRAFFICKERS.

IN A STATEMENT — SAN DIEGO SHERIFF KELLY MARTINEZ SAYS “THERE IS NO MORE INSIDIOUS CRIME THAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.”

SHE THANKED AUTHORITIES FOR THE FOCUS THAT WAS PLACED ON COMIC CON TO IDENTIFY AND RESCUE THE VICTIMS.

AUTHORITIES SAY ADULT AND JUVENILE SUPPORT ADVOCATES WERE ON THE SCENE TO PROVIDE HELP TO THE 10 VICTIMS AS NEEDED.