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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Cracking Down on Human Trafficking, California DOJ Announces 120 Arrests

ATTORNEY

THE BY GENERAL

OFFICE OF liberty and justice under law

OF JUSTICE

FORNIA

DEPARTMENT

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on January 26 that 120 people were arrested during a coordinated, multi-county law enforcement operation aimed at disrupting human trafficking and connecting survivors with support services.

The arrests stem from Operation Stand On Demand, a six-day effort conducted from January 19 through Jan. 24 across San Diego, Sacramento, Tulare, and Fresno counties. It in- volved more than a dozen state and local law enforcement agencies working together to tar- get individuals involved in sex trafficking, in- cluding traffickers and buyers.

"This operation reflects an ongoing commit- ment by California law enforcement to target those who fuel trafficking and exploitation," said Attorney General Rob Bonta.

According to the California DOJ, 87 arrests were made for loitering, 25 for solicitation, and eight for pimping and pandering. Officials said the operation focused on reducing demand for commercial sexual exploitation while priori- tizing a survivor-centered approach.

"It's a coordinated, multi-county law en- forcement effort focused on disrupting sex trafficking, holding perpetrators accountable, and connecting survivors with support," said Bonta.

San Diego County accounted for the major- ity of enforcement activity during the opera- tion. District Attorney Summer Stephan said law enforcement agencies worked around the clock to identify and arrest individuals at- tempting to purchase sex.

"Our officers, in less than one week during this operation, took action, not words, by work- ing around the clock and arresting and citing 105 people who thought that they were going to go out and buy a human being like they're a hamburger or a slice of pizza," Stephan said. San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez chimed in.

-By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

"Communities like Santee and San Marcos, which were part of this operation, face unique vulnerabilities tied to transportation routes, student populations, and employment oppor- tunities," she said.

Bonta said the arrests are part of broader statewide efforts to combat human traffick- ing. Since 2021, the Attorney General's Office said its human trafficking task forces have led to more than 900 arrests and connected more than 1,000 survivors to services and resources.

"Human trafficking is a complex, devastat- ing crime, but when we work together, we can make a real difference, and this operation is proof positive of that fact," Bonta said.

California DOJ officials said similar opera- tions will continue as part of the state's ongo- ing strategy to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable communities.