LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KERO) — A week-long law enforcement operation across the state meant to rescue minors and adults being sex trafficked resulted in 450 arrests, 51 of those charged with felonies.
Thirty-none people were rescued and are now receiving care to free them from the dangerous world of human trafficking.
As part of Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, Los Angeles Police Department officers witnessed three women standing at a south LA intersection - 76th Street and Figueroa - exactly one week ago on January 28th.
"Two of the females appeared to be of Asian descent and the third African-American. While continuing their surveillance on the females, they observed a vehicle approach them. Soon the three females entered the vehicle and drove away. Officers conducted a traffic stop," explained Captain Michael Hannemann of the LASD SVU.
Two of the females were identified as minors and following extensive interviews inside LAPD's 77th Street Division one of the suspects in the vehicle was arrested for human trafficking of a minor.
Law enforcement wants the public to know that children are being bought and sold not in a third world or developing country but in Los Angeles every day and that this work continues year-round not just as part of this yearly operation.
