Santa Clara Task Force Rescues 73 Human Trafficking Victims During Super Bowl LX
In a major preemptive operation, Santa Clara County's Human Trafficking Task Force established a command center in Sunnyvale two weeks before Super Bowl LX. This coordinated effort involved 20 analysts from multiple agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Crime Strategies Unit, federal authorities, and community organizations such as In Our Backyard and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Massive Rescue and Arrest Operation
The analysts worked tirelessly on real-time tips, collaborating with on-field agents to conduct thorough investigations and execute arrests. According to the county's February 19 report, the operation resulted in the rescue of 73 human trafficking victims. Shockingly, 10 of those rescued were minors, including one 12-year-old child who was trafficked in Oakland.
The task force successfully arrested 29 traffickers across 11 Bay Area counties during the Super Bowl period. District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized in a statement, "Beyond football, the Super Bowl was a triumph of Bay Area law enforcement planning, organization, cooperation, and safety. Human trafficking is not a game; it's a tragedy. However, our team was successful."
Coordinated Law Enforcement Efforts
Rosen highlighted that nearly 70 agencies effectively discouraged traffickers from exploiting the game and its victims. He noted, "For traffickers that still came to the game from all over the world with bad intentions, many ended up behind bars." The commanding officer of the task force, Lieutenant Josh Singleton, identified several hotspots, including Salinas, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Vallejo.
Singleton cautioned that trafficking can occur anywhere, often right under the public's nose. He pointed out that it remains unclear whether the increase in arrests was directly linked to the sporting event or was a result of the enhanced, coordinated efforts of agencies, law enforcement, and social workers dedicated to combating human trafficking.
Challenges in Prosecution and Future Operations
Sharan Dhanoa, director of the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, told KQED that the high volume of arrests and recoveries demonstrates that law enforcement agencies are utilizing resources not typically available year-round. Nearly 20 victims were recovered from San Mateo County alone.
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe of San Mateo County explained the difficulties in prosecuting traffickers, stating, "So far in this operation, we've had two cases. Only two cases submitted to us at this point. We have filed charges. One of them is a 19-year-old woman who is the trafficker. She is in our county jail facing human trafficking charges."
Wagstaffe added that prosecuting traffickers is challenging because it requires solid evidence of the crime and a cooperative victim. If survivors choose to cooperate, traffickers could face severe sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years or even life imprisonment.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Following the success of the Super Bowl LX operation at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the task force is already preparing for its next major event: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Scheduled from June 13 to July 1, the World Cup will also be held at Levi's Stadium, with matches taking place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In the United States, eight matches are set for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and six matches will occur at Levi's Stadium. This upcoming event presents another critical opportunity for law enforcement to combat human trafficking on a global scale, building on the lessons and successes from the Super Bowl operations.
