Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a significant win in the fight against human trafficking: 37 missing children were found safe during Operation “Safe Return” in Riverside County. The coordinated effort also led to the arrest of seven suspects involved in the exploitation of these vulnerable kids.

The operation was a joint effort between the California Department of Justice and the United States Marshals Service, alongside local agencies including the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol. These law enforcement teams worked together to investigate cases of missing children entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, focusing specifically on locating the most at-risk kids.

“Every child deserves to be safe, protected, and given the chance to live their life free from exploitation,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. “California will continue to stand with victims and survivors, protect our most vulnerable, and do everything in our power to bring every child home safely”.

Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of this work, noting that “finding missing children and bringing them home safely is some of the most important work we can do”. He highlighted how the collaboration between state and federal authorities made it possible to identify, locate, and safely recover these children while holding those responsible for their exploitation accountable.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects vulnerable populations across California. Traffickers exploit individuals for sex or labor through force, fraud, or coercion. Those who are already marginalized, people experiencing poverty, housing instability, or other hardships, are often targeted because they’re easier to exploit.

The California Department of Justice runs three human trafficking teams across the state: the Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the Fresno Human Trafficking Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, and the San Diego County Human Trafficking Task Force. These teams work continuously to combat trafficking, support survivors, and bring perpetrators to justice.

This rescue operation in Riverside County demonstrates what’s possible when law enforcement agencies prioritize the safety of vulnerable children and commit resources to finding those who have gone missing. For the 37 children found during Operation “Safe Return,” this coordinated effort means they can now begin their journey toward safety and recovery. While this is a major accomplishment, state officials made clear that the fight against human trafficking in California continues, and they remain committed to protecting every child in the state from exploitation.