Human Trafficking Investigation in Santa Barbara Leads to 14 Arrests

Several people have been arrested in connection to a human trafficking operation in Santa Barbara.

Officials from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Human Trafficking Task Force came together in an investigation into a human trafficking scheme taking place in the city. The investigation was a part of a larger, statewide operation called “Operation Reclaim Rebuild,” and it was launched between February 9 and February 12.

NBC’s KYSBY 6 reports 14 people who participated in purchasing people in the human trafficking ring were arrested. Two victims who are said to have been trafficked have been taken to local resource facilities, the news outlet reports.

Out of the entire statewide operation, there have been a total of 477 people arrested and 73 people have been rescued. The victims included juveniles and adults. Santa Barbara’s County Human Trafficking Task Force is made up of the Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Barbara Police Department and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.