January 28, 2026 – San Diego County District Attorney DA Summer Stephan joined CA Attorney General Rob Bonta and law enforcement partners on Monday to announce the results of Operation “Stand on Demand,” a statewide human trafficking operation conducted during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

The operation underscored our office’s year-round commitment to fighting human trafficking and sexual exploitation—while deploying a new state law that holds buyers of sex more accountable by making loitering to purchase sex a crime. Dozens of individuals were cited under the new law, primarily in areas known as “the blade,” directly addressing the demand that fuels trafficking.

In San Diego County, the operation resulted in:

▪️ 105 sex buyers arrested

▪️ 4 individuals arrested for alleged human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and related crimes

Operations were conducted at motels in National City, Santee, and San Marcos, as well as in neighborhoods across the county where individuals are openly bought and sold for sex.

DA Stephan thanked the Human Trafficking Task Force, Deputy District Attorney David Jarman, and Carolyn Matzger, Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division, for their leadership and dedication.

Human trafficking remains a lucrative criminal industry—but together, we are holding traffickers and criminal buyers more accountable than ever.

Source & photo: San Diego County District Attorney’s Office