“CSLEA applauds the task force efforts that are taking place throughout California to put an end to human trafficking. Human trafficking is not a victimless crime and contributes to public safety concerns throughout our communities.”
– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
SAN DIEGO— From July 22 to 24, 2026, the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF) conducted a sting operation — dubbed Operation Iron Justice — that focused on quelling the demand for commercial sexual exploitation surrounding large-scale events. During the operation, 27 suspected sex buyers were arrested. Additionally, SDHTTF recovered seven adult and two juvenile trafficking victims who were provided with support services.
“The ugly truth is that the demand for these illegal services fuels the supply of commercial sex operations and human trafficking. No matter if it’s around large-scale conventions or anywhere else, solicitation is a crime and California stands ready to hold offenders accountable,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “My office is proud to lead the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force to confront demand and support survivors. Our ongoing efforts will continue to keep communities safe and achieve meaningful results that protect Californians.”
“We are a proud member of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. Working together, we successfully disrupted human trafficking here in San Diego,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “These operations demonstrate our continued commitment to recovering victims and focusing on the buyers who drive the demand for this illegal activity.”
During Operation Iron Justice, agents went undercover to initiate contact with sex buyers throughout San Diego County, resulting in the 27 arrests for solicitation, loitering for purposes of solicitation, or other related offenses. Suspected buyers were taken into custody and transported to the San Diego Central Jail where they were booked. During the course of the operation, SDHTTF assisted a 16-year-old trafficking victim missing from San Bernardino County. Potential victims and survivors were offered access to resources and supportive services.
Large-scale events, which bring thousands of people together, are a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking, a crime that comes in many forms, including sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude resulting from force, fraud, fear, or coercion. Solicitation is a crime subject to jail time and monetary penalties because the demand for commercial sex is a driving force that contributes to human trafficking, as human traffickers profit from forced or coerced commercial sex work.
SDHTTF is a cooperative effort led by the California Department of Justice, alongside the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Highway Patrol, Chula Vista Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, National City Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego County Probation Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, San Diego Police Department, Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
In addition to serving as the lead agency on the SDHTTF, the California Department of Justice has three regional Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Teams across the state.
