“Enforcement efforts targeting human trafficking are multifaceted. Reducing demand by arresting those who solicit commercial sex is one part of the fight against human trafficking.  Other components include targeting traffickers and supporting victims.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SACRAMENTO — On July 21, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the results of a human trafficking operation focused on quelling the demand for illegal commercial sex. The Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (SRHTTF) operation occurred on July 15 in Sacramento County with the goal of arresting sex buyers, assisting trafficking victims, and ultimately, arresting traffickers. As a result of the operation, 13 individuals were arrested. Additionally, SRHTTF recovered a juvenile trafficking victim reported missing by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and provided them with essential services.
 
“The California Department of Justice will continue to dismantle sex trafficking networks by cutting off the demand for these illegal services and supporting survivors along the way,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “It is vital that our efforts remain rooted in a trauma-informed, culturally competent approach that prioritizes the dignity, healing, and diverse backgrounds of survivors. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation are profound violations of human rights that have no place in California. I am grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement and community partners here in Sacramento. This operation proves that when we work together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish to make California safer.”
 
Twelve sex buyers were arrested for solicitation of a sex worker and cited. One sex buyer was booked at Sacramento County Jail for solicitation and resisting arrest. This operation is part of a regional strategy aimed at addressing human trafficking and sexual exploitation by concentrating on the demand for commercial sex services. It involves targeted enforcement that depends on both the surveillance of identified locations and the deployment of undercover officers. The cases are being referred to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.