Seventy-three arrests were made, 25 search warrants served, and four victims were rescued during a human trafficking sting operation conducted in Stanislaus County, according to Sheriff Jeff Dirkse.

The county’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force conducted a six-day mission called “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild” that targeted individuals suspected of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Dirkse, in a video made by his office and posted on social media, said that more than 80 California agencies participated in the operation, which resulted in some 600 arrests throughout the state.

“Operation Reclaim and Rebuild is a statewide operation that is not run by the state of California, but is run by LAPD and LASO,” said Dirkse. “This year we had 73 arrests; we rescued four victims of human trafficking; we arrested eight pimps or eight traffickers.”

Dirkse pointed out that the arrests made in Stanislaus County accounted for more than 10 percent of the arrests statewide.

“This is not because human trafficking is more prevalent here, but because we have a dedicated team of men and women who are committed to combating human trafficking in Stanislaus County and, quite frankly, in our region,” Dirkse said. “We were joined in our endeavors by the District Attorney Jeff Laugero’s office … which now gets to prosecute all these cases.”

Terry Seese, chief of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, said the bureau is committed to working with local, state, and federal partners to combat human trafficking.

“This operation reflects our continued commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and holding those who exploit others accountable,” said Seese. “Human trafficking is a serious and complex crime that causes lasting harm to victims and communities. Through collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we were able to identify offenders, disrupt criminal activity, and connect victims with critical support services.”

Dirkse also praised the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Homeland Security Investigations, as well as non-profit organizations Without Permission and HAVEN (Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments).

“We were able to be there, as well as other service providers, to provide immediate intervention services for people who are being trafficked and help them find a pathway to safety,” said May Rico, HAVEN executive director. “Our staff members were out there in shifts, waiting for anybody that wanted to talk to them.”