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Bay Area Super Bowl Trafficking Crackdown Nets 29 Arrests, Rescues 73 Victims

A 67-agency, analyst-driven task force built over two years will now be adapted for World Cup security with targeted outreach.

Overview

  • Authorities said 10 of the recovered victims were minors, including a 12-year-old who was being trafficked in Oakland.
  • Nearly 40 coordinated operations across 11 Bay Area counties were run by the regional Human Trafficking Task Force.
  • A Sunnyvale command center staffed by more than 20 analysts fed real-time leads to nearly 70 partner agencies across the region.
  • Recoveries and arrests spanned multiple counties: 20 victims in San Mateo and 17 in Contra Costa; seven alleged traffickers arrested in Contra Costa, six in Monterey and Solano, and two in Santa Clara where a firearm was seized.
  • Officials plan airport outreach, billboard campaigns, and consulate engagement for the 2026 World Cup, while cautioning that sustained funding and staffing are ongoing challenges.