(FOX40.COM) — As part of an effort to combat human trafficking earlier this year, the Sacramento Police Department made 121 arrests, conducted 220 stops and recovered 41 victims.
“Human trafficking affects many people of all ages and genders,” said Allison Smith, spokesperson for the Sacramento Police Department. “It’s not just the kind of thing you see on TV.”
Authorities launched a 16-day operation in January, dubbed “Operation Buyer’s Remorse,” aimed at cracking down on these often hard-to-measure crimes. In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 3,603 potential victims in California alone.
However, law enforcement officials say many cases go unnoticed and unreported. Older women, young children, and people of all backgrounds can be forced, coerced, or tricked into engaging in various types of labor or sexual exploitation.
In January, FOX40 spoke with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office regarding Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Now, in March, the police department is detailing their efforts.
“We work up and down the Stockton Avenue corridor,” Smith said. “We have taken steps to disrupt purchasing practices related to human trafficking, address human trafficking issues, and connect all victims and survivors to these community advocacy resources.”
In this massive operation, Sacramento Police and the Sacramento Area Human Trafficking Task Force collaborated with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Justice.
Smith said that in addition to the arrest, interception and identification of nine traffickers, one of the most important results of the operation was the rescue of 41 victims. She explained that the operation was about more than just arrests.
“It builds trust with victims and trafficked people so they can break out of that cycle and move on to bigger and better things outside of trafficking,” Smith said.
Officials say many victims are unaware they are being trafficked. It can happen in hidden places or in the open. In Sacramento, police targeted areas such as Stockton Avenue. In Sacramento County, Watt Avenue is also a hotspot.
“This is something we’ll continue to do throughout the year,” Smith said. “We’ve expanded training for department officers. And stepped up intervention education for younger people.”
Smith said the outreach component of combating human trafficking is extremely important.
The signs that someone is being trafficked can indeed vary, but according to police, people should be on the lookout for people who may avoid making eye contact in public while appearing to be controlled by the person they are with. If they are wearing clothes that are inappropriate for the season or are out in public, this could also be an indicator.
For more information, visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline website. Police say if anyone sees anything suspicious, it’s best to report it – just to be safe.
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