Two minors rescued in National City sex trafficking sweep

Two minors were rescued in San Diego County last month during a nationwide sweep targeting human trafficking, the California Attorney General’s Office announced Monday.

The collaborative “Operation Coast to Coast” was carried out in 15 states and multiple cities during October, the office said. The goal was to share intelligence, identify trafficking victims and arrest traffickers.

The office said 34 people were arrested as part of the multi-state operation, and 77 trafficking survivors were offered assistance and resources. Three minors were recovered, including two in National City.

Locally, the operation led by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force had two fronts.

One focused on “street-level contacts and recoveries” in National City. The other targeted hotel-based “outcall operations,” in which undercover officers responded to online ads for sex involving suspected minors and arranged to meet in a hotel. Once there, the survivors were interviewed and offered support services.

That side of the operation led to the recovery of two minors who authorities said were being trafficked on the street in National City. Another 13 adults were offered resources and support.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said in statement that it is vital to handle the matter in “a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally competent. That’s why our special agents receive specialized training and experience to appropriately handle these cases with the sensitivity, compassion, and the care they deserve. “