Last week, an undercover operation at the Comic-Con International convention in San Diego, California, resulted in the arrest of fourteen individuals and the rescue of ten victims of sex trafficking, including a 16-year-old girl, officials announced Thursday.

 

The convention, dedicated to comic books and pop culture, is held annually in San Diego and has drawn crowds of over 130,000 in recent years. This year, from July 25 to 27, the California Department of Justice's San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force conducted an undercover operation aimed at combating sex trafficking during the event.

 

Law enforcement officers worked undercover, posing as sex buyers to identify and contact potential trafficking victims. They also posted undercover advertisements soliciting sex to identify buyers, according to a press release from prosecutors.

 

During the three-day operation, fourteen sex buyers were arrested and face solicitation charges. Among the rescued victims were nine adults and one 16-year-old minor.

 

"Child Welfare Services and adult and juvenile support service advocates were on scene to provide the necessary support," the release stated.