Attorney General Rob Bonta came to San Diego on Monday with a clear message: California is actively targeting human trafficking while trying to pull survivors out of harm’s way. Flanked by local officials, he announced the results of a statewide human trafficking operation, describing it as a coordinated push to identify victims and disrupt trafficking networks across the state. Local leaders at the briefing framed the work as both an enforcement sweep and a survivor support mission.
At a press conference captured on video, Bonta walked through the operation’s results and publicly thanked partner agencies, according to CBS 8. The footage shows Department of Justice investigators working alongside the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and local prosecutors as they detail how the operation unfolded and what comes next.
Task Force Tactics
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force leans heavily on undercover work and online surveillance to get results. Investigators run stings, set up “outcall” operations using online ads, and watch suspected trafficking corridors to identify victims and arrest alleged traffickers and buyers. These demand-reduction tactics, which include posing as buyers and arranging meetings at preselected locations, have been at the center of recent county operations. Local coverage has broken down that playbook in more detail, as reported by ABC 10News.
Recent Operations And Results
California’s Department of Justice has been running a series of coordinated stings in San Diego and other regions. In one multi-state effort, “Operation Coast to Coast,” a DOJ release reported that the May 29, 2025, sweep resulted in 74 arrests and that 98 people were offered support services. In a separate campaign, “Operation Better Pathways,” another DOJ release reported eight arrests and 13 people offered services, including one minor. Together, those press releases underscore the DOJ’s blend of enforcement and victim outreach in these multiagency efforts, according to the California Department of Justice and the California Department of Justice.
Prosecution And Survivor Services
Cases that arise from these stings typically go to county and city prosecutors, and sometimes to federal partners when the facts warrant it. At the same time, people identified as trafficking victims are connected with advocates trained in trauma-informed care. Local officials have repeatedly stressed that the operations are designed as both accountability tools and rescue efforts, with survivors offered housing, counseling, and medical services in the days following the stings. Local reporting has tracked those referrals and follow-ups, including coverage from ABC 10News.
How To Get Help
If you suspect someone is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, text 233733, or use the hotline's live chat, and services are available 24/7. The hotline connects callers with local resources and service providers, and more information is available at the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
