Operation Safe Return Rescues 37 Missing Children

U.S. Marshals and California Task Forces Rescue 37 At-Risk Teens in Multi-State Human Trafficking Sting

RIVERSIDE, CA — In one of the most significant child recovery efforts in recent California history, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today the successful recovery of 37 missing children following a week-long multi-agency mission dubbed “Operation Safe Return.”

The operation, which concluded this week, was led by the U.S. Marshals Service in coordination with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT). While the effort was centered in Riverside County, the search expanded across Southern California and into neighboring states, ultimately locating children in San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties, as well as Arizona and Nevada.

A Multidisciplinary Rescue

“Operation Safe Return” was specifically designed to locate “critically missing children”—those between the ages of 14 and 17 who are at the highest risk of violence, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse.

Unlike standard law enforcement sweeps, this mission utilized a multidisciplinary team that embedded social workers and victim advocates directly with federal agents and local deputies.

• The Scope: Investigators identified more than 50 children as critically missing before the operation began.
• The Recoveries: 37 children were safely located. Many were found in environments that indicated they were victims of crimes ranging from sexual assault to sex trafficking.
• The Arrests: Law enforcement made seven arrests during the week. Notably, one individual is facing federal charges for child sex trafficking brought by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Every child deserves to be safe and protected,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “California will continue to stand with survivors, protect our most vulnerable, and do everything in our power to bring every child home.”

Supporting the Survivors

Every child recovered during the operation was immediately connected with critical support services. Agencies including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Riverside University Health System, and Riverside County Children and Family Services provided medical care and advocacy before the teens were reunited with legal guardians or placed in safe housing.

Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the importance of the collaboration: “Through close collaboration between state and federal authorities, we were able to identify, locate, and safely recover 37 vulnerable children while holding those responsible for their exploitation accountable.”

Why This Matters for the Inland Empire

Riverside County, which spans over 7,000 square miles, sees an average of 5,000 to 6,000 reports of runaway or missing children annually. While most return home quickly, those who remain missing for months often fall prey to organized trafficking rings. Operation Safe Return serves as a blueprint for how state and federal resources can be pooled to address the “epidemic” of missing youth in the region.