SAN DIEGO — A binational conference aimed at fighting human trafficking kicked off Thursday morning at Chula Vista City Hall.
The 11th annual conference was held one day after the California Attorney General's Office announced 14 people were arrested during an undercover anti-sex trafficking sting that took place during Comic-Con.
"The average age of entry in commercial sexual exploitation is 16 years old," said San Diego County District Attorney Investigator Dan Owens. "Our own law enforcement has recovered children as young as 12 being exploited to have sex with strangers for money."
Owens said every year 3,500 adults and children are bought and sold in San Diego.
The conference includes training and seminars for law enforcement. According to the California Department of Justice, human trafficking is among the world's fastest-growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion-a-year global industry.
"I think that working together we can face those challenges, specifically fighting against organized crime that sees this activity as a very lucrative activity," said Alicia Kerber-Palma, Consul General of Mexico.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, since January 2024 the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force has received 86 leads which has resulted in 52 victims recovered including 20 juveniles. 104 people have been arrested.
Though victims are all ages and from all socio-economic backgrounds, traffickers also target migrants and refugees.
"Human trafficking is an evil crime that knows no boundaries," said Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy.
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