The undercover operation, conducted from July 24 to 26, targeted sex buyers across San Diego County during the city's largest annual pop culture event. According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the effort was part of a "demand reduction" strategy, aimed at holding buyers accountable and disrupting the market that fuels sex trafficking. While not all commercial sex is linked to trafficking, law enforcement officials warn that demand from paying customers can drive traffickers to exploit victims through force, fraud, or coercion.
"Solicitation is a crime, and these arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that we stand ready to hold them accountable," Bonta said in a statement. "The demand for commercial sex is a driving factor that contributes to human trafficking."
The operation was a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies, including the California Department of Justice, San Diego Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Agents went undercover to contact suspected buyers and make arrests under Penal Code 647(b)(2), which criminalizes solicitation.
This year's sting follows a similar operation during Comic-Con 2024, when authorities arrested 14 alleged sex buyers and recovered 10 potential victims of sex trafficking, including a 16-year-old girl. Last year’s enforcement also focused on rescuing victims, with Child Welfare Services and victim advocates providing immediate assistance on site.
Comic-Con International, held annually at the San Diego Convention Center since 1970, draws more than 130,000 attendees from around the world for panels, celebrity appearances, and previews of upcoming films, shows, and games. The event has grown from a small comic book gathering into one of the largest fan conventions in the world - and its massive crowds have also made it a focus for law enforcement concerned about crimes of opportunity, including human trafficking.
In advance of this year’s convention, the Attorney General's office partnered with Comic-Con International to raise public awareness of trafficking, sharing signs to watch for and urging attendees to report suspicious activity. Officials emphasized that large-scale gatherings like Comic-Con can be exploited by traffickers looking to find and coerce victims.
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force encourages anyone who may be a victim - or knows someone who might be - to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. For emergencies or situations involving immediate danger, call 911.