Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, a statewide program geared at disrupting the practice of human trafficking, led to 58 arrests in Stanislaus County over a three-day period, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Operation Reclaim and Rebuild focuses on rescuing victims of sexual slavery and human trafficking, providing victims with much-needed services, identifying and arresting their captors, seeking successful prosecutions, and disrupting the demand for vulnerable victims by targeting their customers. Police agencies and other trafficking task forces throughout the state joined in the enforcement operation.

Statewide, the operation was conducted from Jan.22 through Jan. 28 in observance of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The operation saw participation from 82 law enforcement agencies across the state. Nearly 400 people were arrested, and 125 adults were identified as victims of human trafficking.

Locally, the operation spanned three days and saw the sheriff’s department partnering with law enforcement agencies, like the Ceres Police Department, social services, and advocacy groups. 

In total, 58 men and women were arrested for an array of felony and misdemeanor charges including, prostitution, pimping, violation of sex offender registration, attempting to contact a minor with the intent to commit a felony and human trafficking. Eight women requested help and received services from law enforcement and advocacy groups.

Other agencies participating in the operation were: Turlock Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Stanislaus County District Attorney, California Parole, California Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, Stanislaus County Child Protective Services and HAVEN.

Anyone with information on crimes related to Human Trafficking can call Stanislaus County Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 or go stancrimetips.org. If you or someone you know is a victim and needs immediate help, call 911 or our non-emergency dispatch at (209) 552-2468.