Thirty-seven children were found and seven people arrested after a recent anti-human trafficking operation in Southern California dubbed “Safe Return.”Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Tuesday that the children were found in Riverside County by investigating cases entered into the National Crime Information Center database. “Every child deserves to be safe, protected, and given the chance to live their life free from exploitation. California will continue to stand with victims and survivors, protect our most vulnerable, and do everything in our power to bring every child home safely,” Newsom said in a statement. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to locate these missing children, support survivors of trafficking, and hold those responsible for harming our kids accountable.”California’s Department of Justice partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service and the effort was assisted by the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Probation Office, California Highway Patrol, and Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.Details on those arrested were not released. A joint press release noted that California’s DOJ leads three human trafficking teams across the state, which includes the Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. —
Thirty-seven children were found and seven people arrested after a recent anti-human trafficking operation in Southern California dubbed “Safe Return.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Tuesday that the children were found in Riverside County by investigating cases entered into the National Crime Information Center database.
“Every child deserves to be safe, protected, and given the chance to live their life free from exploitation. California will continue to stand with victims and survivors, protect our most vulnerable, and do everything in our power to bring every child home safely,” Newsom said in a statement. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to locate these missing children, support survivors of trafficking, and hold those responsible for harming our kids accountable.”
California’s Department of Justice partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service and the effort was assisted by the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Probation Office, California Highway Patrol, and Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.
Details on those arrested were not released.
A joint press release noted that California’s DOJ leads three human trafficking teams across the state, which includes the Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.