Detectives with the Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force arrested nine men Monday during an undercover sting operation targeting commercial sex trafficking activity.
The operation began around 9 a.m. in Thousand Oaks, where investigators posed as sex workers at a hotel on the 1500 block of Newbury Road. Over the course of the day, nine men were arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution, authorities said.
The suspects, ranging in age from 28 to 67 and from cities including Oxnard, Camarillo, Santa Paula and Thousand Oaks, were cited and released at the scene.
According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the purpose of the operation was to identify and assist potential victims of human trafficking, as well as apprehend sex buyers and possible traffickers.
“Our objectives during these operations are to rescue victims of sexual exploitation, provide social services, and arrest traffickers or pimps,” detectives said in a news release. “Commercial sex buyers play a major role in perpetuating this cycle of abuse.”
Monday’s sting was coordinated by the Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes detectives from the Sheriff’s Special Crimes Unit, the Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Special and Directed Enforcement Units, and the Ventura Police Department.
Several victim service providers also supported the effort and were on standby to respond if trafficking victims were identified.
Authorities urge anyone who suspects trafficking activity, or anyone who may be a victim themselves, to call 211 or contact local law enforcement for support.