More than 30 Missing Teens Found Thanks to Riverside County’s Efforts Against Human Trafficking

More than 50 Missing Children Identified in Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Operation

Riverside County authorities announced the identification of over 50 missing children, with 37 successfully rescued, during a week-long anti-human trafficking initiative. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco shared the updates with NBC Los Angeles on Friday.

The operation, known as Operation Safe Return, focused on locating teens aged 14 to 17 across Riverside County, Northern California, Nevada, and Arizona. Sheriff Bianco confirmed that 37 children were brought to safety during the effort.

“Our sex trafficking is through hotels, events, and apps online,” Bianco explained, highlighting the unique challenges of combating human trafficking in Riverside County. He noted that some of the rescued teenagers were victims of child sex trafficking and sexual assault.

The successful rescue operation was made possible through joint efforts with federal agencies and over a dozen local law enforcement departments, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. “All of the kids had something to do with Riverside County,” Bianco stated.

Each rescued child will receive victim advocacy services, medical support, and follow-up resources to aid in their recovery.

The operation also resulted in seven arrests, one of which involved a suspect taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations for alleged child sex trafficking.

As Sheriff Bianco embarks on his campaign for California governor this November, he emphasized the importance of public involvement in addressing human trafficking. “We want license plate numbers, descriptions, and pictures. We follow up on every lead because you never know what we are going to find,” he said.

Authorities encourage anyone who suspects they may be a victim of human trafficking in Riverside County to seek assistance.