SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — With San Diego Comic-Con festivities bringing in thousands of attendees, officials are raising awareness of human trafficking crimes and enforcement.
During last year’s Comic-Con, 13 individuals who allegedly attempted to purchase sex were arrested in a three-day sting led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF). Additionally, 14 people were arrested in 2024 during another human trafficking sting during Comic-Con.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan shared in a statement on Tuesday that participating in these activities will result in legal action.
13 arrested in human trafficking sting operation during San Diego Comic-Con weekend
“Many victims being sold for sex are being exploited, coerced, or controlled by others behind the scenes,” Stephan said. “If you attempt to purchase sex, expect enforcement and criminal consequences, including misdemeanor or felony charges.”
Not all commercial sex is linked to human trafficking, but the demand for it is a “driving force,” according to a <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-san-diego-human-trafficking-task-force-conduct-sting” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>2025 news release from Bonta’s office. During the 2024 sting, law enforcement recovered 10 potential victims—including a 16-year-old.
“Buying a human being for sex is not a victimless act,” Stephan said. “It fuels the demand that drives human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Major events like Comic-Con attract visitors from around the world, and traffickers often seek to profit from that influx of people.”
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Bonta’s office added that human trafficking can take many forms and by reporting any suspicious activity, everyone can play a role in preventing these crimes from taking place.
“Events like Comic-Con, which bring thousands of people together, are a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking, a crime that comes in many forms, including sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude resulting from force, fraud, or coercion,” Bonta’s office said in a news release.
If you or anyone you know is a trafficking victim, the Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888. If you are in a situation with immediate danger, authorities encourage calling 9-1-1.
“We want everyone to enjoy Comic-Con and all that San Diego has to offer, while respecting the law and the dignity of others,” Stephan said. “Be part of what makes our city great by being a responsible and respectful guest.”
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