14 arrested in human trafficking sting at San Diego Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Fourteen people were arrested as a result of a human trafficking sting at San Diego Comic-Con, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Wednesday.

The California Department of Justice's San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the sting from Thursday to Saturday at the comic book and pop culture convention in downtown San Diego, a news release from Bonta's office stated.

Law enforcement personnel posed as sex buyers to identify and contact potential trafficking victims and arrest their traffickers, according to the attorney general's office. They also posted undercover ads soliciting sex in order to arrest buyers.

Authorities arrested 14 alleged sex buyers and recovered 10 potential victims, including a 16-year-old, the release stated. Child Welfare Services and other service advocates were present to provide support to the victims.

“Unfortunately, sex traffickers capitalize on large scale events such as Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit,” Bonta is quoted as saying in the release. “These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated. We are grateful to all our dedicated partners involved in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, whose collaboration has been invaluable."

“There is no more insidious crime than human trafficking,” San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said. “The coercion and violence which enslaves people for profit and places them into forced labor or sex is criminal. As the Sheriff I support the efforts of all our justice partners in holding perpetrators accountable."

“The San Diego Police Department is a proud member of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force,” added San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “Working together, teams identified and arrested more than a dozen individuals participating in these illegal acts in our City over the weekend."