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Media Blasé when 368 Arrested, 131 Rescued in California Sex Trafficking Operation

‘In our city, kids are being raped 20 to 30 times a day’

By Katy Grimes, February 6, 2023 4:56 pm

Apparently on February 1st, Los Angeles law enforcement authorities announced they had arrested 368 people and rescued 131 victims involved in human trafficking in a statewide multi-agency task force.

That’s 368 people arrested and 131 victims rescued in multiple Southern California counties.

The Epoch Times reported:

Operation Reclaim and Rebuild was conducted between Jan. 22 and Jan. 28 in nine counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino, Moore said at a news conference at the department’s Elysian Park Academy.

Numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies were involved in the effort, including the LAPD, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The Los Angeles Police Department press statement has more:

The Los Angeles Police Department (in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, and 82 law enforcement agencies supported by various victim advocacy groups) conducted a statewide operation that focused on the rescue of commercially sexually exploited victims and the apprehension of their exploiters.

Operation Reclaim and Rebuild occurred during the week of January 22, 2023, through January 28, 2023. Investigators across the state conducted operations to raise public awareness of human trafficking by searching for potential sex trafficking victims, arresting their exploiters, and investigating other prostitution-related crimes.

This was a huge operation with 82 law enforcement agencies involved, and hundreds were arrested.

I wondered why I didn’t see or hear this news on every radio, television and online news channel, but thought I just may have missed it. However, in a search of what I expected would be wall-to-wall news coverage, I came up fairly empty.

The Epoch Times covered this thoroughly.

FoxLA also covered the story thoroughly.

The Bongino Report picked up the story.

The Conservative Daily picked up the Bongino Report story.

WPXI reported the story.

LA Daily News (socalnews.com) covered the story.

ZeroHedge re-posted the Epoch Times article and Tweeted it.

You see where this is going.

There is not much news coverage of what should be a shockingly horrific article of man’s inhumanity against man, and human tragedy. This isn’t just a regional news story and some big names are missing from the coverage list.

The Epoch Times shared some of the grim details:

Victims are sometimes brought in from other states or countries, said David Cox, COO for ZOE International, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that helps victims recover once rescued locally and internationally.

Cox said his organization, partnering with a similar Los Angeles-based nonprofit Saving Innocents, has cared for 489 youth victims of sex trafficking this past year, with some as young as 11.

“In our city, kids are being raped 20 to 30 times a day,” he said.

Journey Out, another LA-based nonproft combating human trafficking, cared for 256 adult victims last year, Cox said.

He said sex trade is a violent industry, as some of these victims have been pistol-whipped, jumped out of moving vehicles to escape, chased down and beaten, gone missing, or lost their lives.

“Traffickers are master predators. They’re on the hunt for vulnerable kids and adults,” he said.

LAPD detailed more:

“One hundred ninety-five exploiters were arrested, and six minors were rescued from possible exploiters. In addition, 125 adults were identified as trafficking victims and they  received appropriate victim services.  All recovered minors were placed in protective custody and will receive assistance from the  Department of Children and Family Services and victim advocacy partners.”

Kudos to the reporters who did cover this mega-bust, and to law enforcement for their extraordinary operation. But why the silence from major newspapers and news outlets? Or why bury the story? Is it not newsy enough? Are people hardened to this kind of human exploitation and suffering?

This isn’t the first time a major sex trafficking bust has happened.

ABC10 reported Feb. 5, 2021 – two-years ago an even larger sex trafficking ring bust:

“Operation Reclaim and Rebuild” involved 100 federal, state and local law enforcement agents conducting a week-long effort that led to 450 arrests and the rescue of dozens of victims, including children.

“More than 60 of those arrests were made in Northern California alone during the two-day operation in late January.”

“Several local agencies were a part of the operation, which was hosted by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. Thirteen of the arrests were made by Turlock Police. One such arrest was made when a suspect solicited an undercover officer for sex, investigators said.”

Democrats in the Legislature passed SB 357 by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-an Francisco), titled the “Safer Streets for All Act,” which repeals “discriminatory loitering law that targets sex workers and trans women of color,” according to the Senator. Gov. Newsom signed the bill into law, which law enforcement says hamstrings them because the new law essentially legalized loitering for the purpose of prostitution – enhancing sex trafficking.

“When he signed the bill, Gov. Newsom committed to “mitigate” any impacts, but that’s proven to be yet another empty promise from the governor,” Assembly Republicans note. “Now that the tragic consequences of the new law are becoming clear, Californians deserve to know – will Democrats continue enabling human traffickers or backtrack on their misguided law and finally protect vulnerable girls?”

Sex trafficking is happening all across California – Northern, Central and Southern California – and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all. We need to ask why.

LAPD encourages anyone with information on this crime or any other crimes related to Human Trafficking, should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by logging on to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

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7 thoughts on “Media Blasé when 368 Arrested, 131 Rescued in California Sex Trafficking Operation

  1. Most of the media from news to internet to TV— is owned by six corporations: Time Warner, Disney, News Corporation, Comcast, Viacom and Sony. The deep-state Democrat and RINO globalist cabal that controls most of the media does not want the public to know about the human trafficking and sexual exploitation that is connected with open borders?

  2. The Communist Democrat media doesn’t report on it, because they want everything is just fine under Democrat control. They are also covering up for the Democrats involved in the sex slave industry.

    If you want to see how horrific sex trafficking is, watch the movie “Trafficked” which is based on a true story. Everyone should watch this movie. It is a real eye opener.

  3. Essentially the legacy media ignores the biggest human trafficking stories because it would bring attention to the inaction of our government agencies and the NGO’s that actually encourage it. Our southern border has become a sieve for human trafficking, many women and children are smuggled in to be used for the sex trade, all the while Children’s Protective Services turn a blind eye People are smuggled through the Darien Gap through South and Central America. They are coming from Africa, Haiti and the Middle East as well as the Americas. If they survive the journey then the children are placed into group homes where they must pay off their debt to the smugglers. Some of the so called foster homes are a front for child sex rings!!
    CPS whistleblowers are trying to come forward and expose this corruption.
    Lara Logan has done in depth reporting on this.
    Last week an ABC news producer was arrested on child pornography charges. He is a well known producer in the media.
    Thank you Katy for bringing us this story.
    https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/abc-journalist-charged-child-pornography-offense-96824104
    https://dailycaller.com/2021/04/17/lara-logan-joe-biden-taxpayer-dollars-subsidizing-human-trafficking-border-crisis/

  4. Katy, you and the California Globe should make direct inquiries to Newsom and Wiener, demanding direct comment on this travesty. I doubt they will respond, but their silence would also be newsworthy.

  5. The horrors that have resulted from Scott Wiener’s SB 357, and Gov Newsom’s reckless signing of it, have officially exceeded every human being’s worst, most hellish nightmare. And the way you know that Wiener (and Newsom) probably engineered this nightmare in the first place (who knows why; it’s becoming impossible to get into their demon-ruled minds) is because 1) how could a person not know that this would be the result? and 2) we are not seeing any public statements or “tweets” of regret or remorse or vows to repeal or withdraw or put a stop to what has happened from either one of these sub-human characters, Sen Scott Wiener or Gov Gavin Newsom. But what would you expect from these two? Truly sickening and horrifying.

  6. California was the land of milk& honey… now is the land of cartel sex slavery& cartel fentanyl poisoning and abortion on demand.

  7. Call your assemblyperson to vote NO on as.bill742! It will temove canine police units , except for rescue,drug& explosive usage.police dogs save black lives, brown lives, all lives by safely stopping a person w a gun, knife, club, etc. So others in same vacinity wont be harmed! Police dont have to use force w gun as well, saving suspects’ lives too. Stupid law basd on history from 1960’s in deep south that abused people of color. Canine units save lives of all colors.a bite is easy to fix..gun& knife injures kill& maime

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