Dozens of missing children were rescued, and seven people were arrested after a multi-day human trafficking operation across Southern California and nearby states, authorities announced this week.
Officials said the sweep, called Operation Safe Return, ran from March 2 to March 6 and focused on critically missing children at high risk of abuse and exploitation.
Investigators reviewed more than 50 missing child cases involving teens between 14 and 17 years old before launching coordinated recovery efforts. By the end of the operation, at least 37 missing minors had been found, while 13 cases remain open.
Seven suspects were taken into custody, including at least one person arrested on a federal child sex trafficking charge, according to officials. Authorities have not released the names of those arrested, citing active and ongoing investigations, according to KCRA.
The U.S. Marshals Service led the operation with the Riverside County Sheriff's Office Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, working with local, state, and federal partners.
Law enforcement teams searched locations across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties, and in some cases followed leads into Northern California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Officials said each potential sighting of a missing child triggered a joint response from law enforcement and social services to safely recover the youth.
Agencies involved included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County law enforcement and social service agencies, the Anaheim Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Secret Service.
Advocacy groups such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and local victim service providers also took part, CBS News reported.
Authorities said some of the recovered teens had been sexually assaulted or trafficked and were considered victims of crimes ranging from child sex trafficking to sexual assault.
Others had been missing for months or even more than a year before being located during the operation. Every child received victim advocacy support, medical care when needed, and follow-up services before being reunited with a legal guardian or placed in protective care.
Riverside County officials noted that an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 children are reported missing in the county each year, with most returning home quickly, but some falling prey to abuse and trafficking.
State leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, praised the operation and said California will continue to prioritize protecting vulnerable children and prosecuting those who exploit them, as per the Los Angeles Times.
