Operation Reclaim and Rebuild dismantled residential brothels, targeted traffickers and buyers, and rescued adults and children across LA County
A sweeping, multi-agency human trafficking crackdown across California has led to more than 600 arrests and the rescue of over 170 victims, including children — with Los Angeles County emerging as a central focus of the operation, according to law enforcement officials.
The weeklong effort, known as Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, ran from January 25 to January 31, 2026, and involved more than 80 local, state, and federal agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, local police departments, and federal task forces. Authorities describe it as one of the largest coordinated anti-trafficking operations in the state’s history.
Statewide, 611 people were arrested, including 71 individuals accused of trafficking and more than 300 people arrested for solicitation, according to figures released in early February. Investigators also reported the recovery of 156 adults and 14 minors, many of whom were victims of sex trafficking or forced labor.
In the greater Los Angeles area, officials confirmed that 12 adults and five children were rescued. Several arrests stemmed from the dismantling of residential brothels in the city of Walnut, uncovered after a citizen tip led authorities to multiple homes allegedly being used to exploit women. Six suspected traffickers were arrested at those locations.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the operation was intentionally designed to target both traffickers and those who create demand. “We are focused not only on those who exploit vulnerable people, but also on the buyers who fuel this system,” Luna said during a briefing. District Attorney Nathan Hochman added that many of the cases involve felony charges that carry significant prison time.
Authorities acknowledged that some of the individuals arrested — as well as many of the victims — have Latino surnames or originate from Latin America. Experts caution, however, against conflating immigration status or ethnicity with criminal behavior. Advocacy groups note that traffickers often prey on migrants facing economic hardship, language barriers, or fear of deportation.
Federal indictments in recent months have highlighted how transnational criminal networks, including gangs operating across South and Central America, use debt bondage and coercion to control victims. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, many victims are forced into labor or sex work to repay so-called “smuggling debts” that can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
“This is not a story about ethnicity — it’s a story about exploitation,” said a representative from a Southern California anti-trafficking nonprofit, who emphasized the need for long-term victim services beyond arrests.
Operation Reclaim and Rebuild follows another high-profile enforcement action in August 2025, when federal agents and the LAPD targeted a trafficking corridor in South Los Angeles, rescuing victims and arresting multiple suspects.
Officials say investigations remain ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.
