The U.S. Marshals Service Central District of California and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, along with several partner agencies, carried out a week-long child recovery effort called Operation Safe Return. The operation led to the recovery or safe location of 37 children and seven arrests, including a major federal case tied to child trafficking.
The effort was led by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force with support from federal and local law enforcement. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom jointly announced the results, pointing to the coordinated effort that led to the recoveries and arrests.
Who were the children?
More than 50 children between the ages of 14 and 17 were identified as missing during the operation. Investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force worked to track each case.
Once a potential location was identified, a multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement and social services responded. Recoveries took place across Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Orange County and Los Angeles County…