Operation Iron Justice nets 27 alleged sex buyers during San Diego Comic-Con
A three-day sting during San Diego’s Comic-Con led to 27 arrests for solicitation and the rescue of nine victims, including two minors.
During the July 22-24 Comic-Con weekend, the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force conducted Operation Iron Justice, a coordinated sting that arrested 27 individuals accused of soliciting sex. The raid also rescued nine victims, among them two minors, including a 16-year-old who had been missing from San Bernardino County. Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that buyer demand sustains commercial sex and human-trafficking networks, while U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said federal charges could carry 10- to 15-year mandatory minimums.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan noted the operation underscores that purchasing sex is not victimless and contributes to a $810 million illicit industry. City Attorney Heather Ferbert reported 81 buyer prosecutions under a state law targeting purchasers this year. The arrests aim to deter future exploitation tied to large-scale events like Comic-Con.
Why it matters
The bust shows how demand for paid sex at major events fuels human trafficking and prompts coordinated law-enforcement action.
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