Operation Century Week combats human trafficking by working to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation
“Thank you to California DOJ personnel and all of the public safety professionals who worked to conduct ‘Operation Century Week’. It is important that law enforcement works to protect individuals who are being exploited through sex trafficking.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
SAN DIEGO – On November 7, 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the results of “Operation Century Week”, a joint investigation through the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF). The multi-jurisdictional, undercover operation, which concluded on November 4th, worked to combat human trafficking by reducing the demand for commercial sexual exploitation. As a result of the four-day operation, 30 people were arrested for alleged solicitation. The arrests have been referred to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and San Diego City Attorney’s Office for potential criminal prosecution.
“Tackling human trafficking in our state takes cooperation and a multi-pronged approach,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Demand-reduction operations like ‘Century Week’ are one part of the solution. I’m grateful to all of our partners on the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their ongoing efforts to protect the safety and well-being of all Californians. Combined with our other efforts to eradicate human trafficking, these operations help protect people against exploitation.”
During Operation Century Week, law enforcement personnel targeted sex buyers by working undercover, posing as individuals offering sex for sale online. Sex buyers who responded to the ads were directed to a predetermined location and subsequently arrested. The operation was carried out in several areas across San Diego County — including Encinitas, National City, San Diego, Santee, and elsewhere — in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies. In addition to the arrests for alleged solicitation, approximately 0.25 grams of cocaine and 0.6 grams of ketamine, a controlled substance commonly known as a “date rape” drug, were seized from one of the arrested individuals.
SDHTTF is a cooperative effort involving the:
- California Department of Justice,
- California Highway Patrol,
- Federal Bureau of Investigation,
- Homeland Security Investigations,
- National City Police Department,
- San Diego City Attorney’s Office,
- San Diego County District Attorney’s Office,
- San Diego County Probation Department,
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department,
- San Diego Police Department,
- Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area,
- and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
