City and county leaders in Los Angeles, along with federal officials, provided a public briefing on Wednesday regarding the measures being taken to address a specific stretch of road that is considered a hub for human trafficking.
During a press conference held downtown, officials provided information about their joint efforts to combat illegal activity along a specific section of South Figueroa Street in South L.A. The targeted area spans three and a half miles, from Gage Avenue to the 110 Freeway. Disturbingly, one victim as young as 11 years old has been found in this location.
“What we see along the Figueroa corridor is a human rights tragedy playing out each and every night,” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said. “These sex traffickers will recruit victims from foster care, from group homes – recruiting them and grooming them – to then engage in prostitution.”
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass commented on the youth of many of the victims.
“What is common is 12 years old,” she said. “That is the age that girls are brought into trafficking.”
L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feinstein Soto recently recounted her eye-opening observations during a ride-along with law enforcement in the area. She witnessed concerning situations, such as encountering young girls in different states of undress.
“There was a ‘kiddie stroll,’ that is the name of it – K-i-d-d-i-e stroll – specifically for the minors,” she said.
Officials from different departments have joined forces, pooling the expertise of the LAPD and Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the legal authority of the city attorney and the Department of Justice.
George Gascón, the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, addressed a particular defendant involved in a recent case during his speech.
“[He] trafficked multiple victims and assaulted them, including branding them with his moniker on their face.”
Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi shared some statistics regarding the number of victims rescued this year along the Figueroa corridor.
“84 victims, I’ll say children, were rescued from human trafficking,” he said.
Although there has been some progress, authorities emphasize that there is still a significant amount of work remaining and they are seeking assistance from the community.
If you have any information about suspected human trafficking, please reach out to the Human Trafficking National Hotline at 888-373-7888. In case of an urgent situation, it is advised to contact 911, as per authorities.
