California authorities located over 30 missing children during a human trafficking operation in Riverside County, Governor Gavin Newsom announced.
The 37 children recovered were considered at high risk, including those vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking, state officials said.
Seven suspects were arrested in the operation, officials said.
Operation Safe Return was led by the United States Marshals Service in collaboration with the California Department of Justice, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and local social services agencies. Officials said the operation focused on children listed as missing in the National Crime Information Center database.
“Every child deserves to be safe, protected, and given the chance to live their life free from exploitation,” Governor Newsom said in a press release.
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