In a decisive move to tackle the insidious issue of human trafficking, San Mateo County Supervisors Jackie Speier and Ray Mueller have successfully pushed forward a proposal to allocate $160,000 in Measure K funds. This significant infusion of cash will breathe new life into a faltering Human Trafficking Cybercrimes program, an initiative that notably petered out in the sheriff's office back in 2022. The Board of Supervisors, except for an absent Supervisor Corzo, unanimously passed the resolution yesterday, according to San Mateo County's official page.
The urgency to reignite this program stems from an anticipated uptick in human trafficking activities, linked to the proximity of major sporting events like the Super Bowl and the World Cup, set to descend upon the Bay Area in the coming year. "We need to be prepared to combat modern-day slavery, not just for major sporting events, but for the trafficking that takes place in our county behind closed doors every day," Supervisor Speier stated, per San Mateo County's official page. She further expressed her commitment to enforce a zero-tolerance stance on these crimes again, harking back to a policy she initiated in 2012.
With human trafficking for sex and labor categorized as one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises globally, the proposed funds will specifically cater to establishing and staffing a dedicated Human Trafficking Cybercrimes Unit within the District Attorney's Office. This unit's chief mandate will be to uncover and prosecute online trafficking activities in San Mateo County. These efforts are projected to be active through the end of 2026.
Highlighting the importance of this timely endeavor, Supervisor Ray Mueller emphasized the need for law enforcement strategies to evolve hand-in-hand with the cunning manner in which traffickers operate. “The fight against human trafficking must evolve with the way these crimes are committed—online and in the shadows," he told the gathering, per San Mateo County's official page. "This program is an investment in technology and expertise to identify traffickers and protect victims in our community. With major global events headed to our region, we must act with urgency and purpose to prevent exploitation and bring perpetrators to justice.”
