Full Notification

DATE/TIME: January 22, 2024 - January 25, 2024

INCIDENT: Operation Reclaim & Rebuild

LOCATION: Throughout San Bernardino County

SUSPECT(S): Multiple

VICTIM(S): Confidential


SUMMARY: 
During the week of January 22, 2024, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department participated in Operation Reclaim & Rebuild, a multi-agency statewide initiative focused on rescuing victims of sexual slavery and human trafficking, identifying and arresting their captors, and disrupting the demand for vulnerable victims.

Human trafficking investigators from the Gangs/Narcotics Division oversaw the county-wide operation in conjunction with San Bernardino Police Department, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and local victim advocacy partners. Operation Reclaim & Rebuild is timed to coincide with National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and serves as a reminder that human trafficking will not be tolerated in California, especially in San Bernardino County.

During the operation, 25 arrests were made throughout San Bernardino County for solicitation of prostitution and pandering and various services and resources were provided to seven rescued victims. The operation targeted online/street prostitution and the individuals in demand for these unlawful activities that assist in fueling an illicit underground economy, both locally as well as across the State of California. Often, individuals engaging in acts of prostitution are being forced to commit sexual acts against their will.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s goal in this operation was to not only arrest suspects, but to identify as many victims as possible, and provide those victims with resources to escape and heal from their sometimes extremely traumatic experiences.

Prostitution is not a “victimless” crime. Those victimized by commercial sexual exploitation frequently have long histories of emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse or trauma in their backgrounds. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates one in six endangered runaways reported are likely victims of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking victims are often subjected not only to severe forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their trafficker but are also frequently physically and sexually assaulted by those that solicit them for prostitution.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department seeks to disrupt and dismantle sex trafficking rings operating within San Bernardino County and will aggressively identify, pursue, and apprehend those who seek to exploit those who are most vulnerable.

Through proactive enforcement operations, human trafficking investigators diligently work to reduce future demand for sex trafficking by identifying and arresting sex buyers and rescuing those forced into sexual servitude.

Anyone wishing to report activities or concerns related to human trafficking to the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force, can do so directly by calling (909) 387-8400 or by email at [email protected]. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at (888) 373-7888.



Refer: Sheriff's Public Affairs

Station: San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force

Phone No. (909) 387-8400

Case No. N/A

SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department