Por Max Vásquez
redaccion@latinocc.com
Law enforcement agencies in Ventura County conducted a series of anti-human trafficking operations in January as part of a statewide effort known as Operation Reclaim and Rebuild.
Coordinated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the operation aimed to combat sex and labor trafficking, rescue victims, and hold traffickers accountable.
The Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force (VCHTTF) led the local enforcement efforts, working alongside police departments from Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Simi Valley, as well as the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Code compliance officials from several cities also assisted in identifying businesses suspected of engaging in trafficking-related activities.
During the operation, detectives conducted sting operations at known trafficking hotspots, including motels and massage parlors. One such operation, held on Jan. 30 in Ventura, resulted in the arrest of a trafficker with an outstanding felony warrant from Monterey County for sex trafficking of a minor. Additionally, a commercial sex buyer, commonly referred to as a «John,» was arrested after attempting to engage in illegal activities.
The task force also carried out compliance checks at 26 locations suspected of operating as illicit massage businesses (IMBs), establishments that often serve as fronts for human trafficking. Five massage parlors were shut down due to multiple code violations, and officials issued administrative citations to several businesses. Authorities provided resources to approximately 52 individuals working at these locations, many of whom were believed to be victims of labor or sex trafficking.
«These operations are crucial in our ongoing fight against human trafficking,» the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. «Our goal is not only to hold traffickers accountable but also to provide victims with the support and services they need to escape exploitation.»
Authorities urge anyone who may be a victim of human trafficking or who knows someone in danger to call 211 or contact local law enforcement for assistance.
The Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force remains committed to raising awareness and preventing human trafficking through enforcement and outreach efforts.
