A Bay Area task force identified 53 human trafficking victims, including 11 children, and arrested 25 offenders during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The regional initiative included law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, social workers, advocates and analysts from 11 Northern California counties. The Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, led a law enforcement command post responsible for enforcement actions and monitoring human trafficking within the region.
During the six World Cup matches held at Levi’s Stadium, participating agencies conducted 66 separate operations. This resulted in:
- 53 victims being identified and offered support, including 42 adults and 11 minors
- 25 suspected traffickers arrested
- 41 sex buyers cited
In fact, undercover investigators even used decoy communications to identify suspected traffickers. Thirteen suspects who responded to various hotels were arrested on suspicion of felony pandering.
Survivors were connected with confidential advocates from Community Solutions and the YWCA Silicon Valley and offered individualized assistance, including safety planning, emergency supplies, blankets, toiletries, temporary housing and other services.
“We are proud that Santa Clara County showcased itself to the world so well and so safely, and with one voice declared our intolerance for the illegal trafficking of human beings,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a release. “We are standing with the survivors and providing them support and services so that they can go on to live a life free of cruel criminal exploitation.”
The regional effort built upon partnerships strengthened during Super Bowl LX, which was also held at Levi’s Stadium. During that operation, participating agencies arrested 29 traffickers and identified 73 survivors, including 10 minors. One survivor being trafficked in Oakland was just 12 years old.
As with the Super Bowl response, the World Cup operation brought together nearly 70 law enforcement agencies and partners from Sacramento to Monterey. A regional coordination center in Santa Clara County included more than 50 analysts representing local, state and federal agencies, along with community-based organizations.
Analysts from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office Crime Strategies Unit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, In Our Backyard, and other partner organizations evaluated and developed actionable intelligence in real time. They worked directly with field personnel to support investigations, locate survivors, identify suspected traffickers, and coordinate enforcement activity across jurisdictional boundaries.
District Attorney Rosen expressed his appreciation to all of the assisting agencies and organizations, especially personnel from the San Jose Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, San Mateo County Human Trafficking Task Force, HSI, San Joaquin County ASALT Task Force, Mountain View Police Department, Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Hayward Police Department, IRS, Campbell Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Union City Police Department, FBI, Contra Costa County Human Trafficking Task Force and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
“By combining intelligence, investigative resources, survivor advocacy and regional coordination in the enhanced operations center, participating agencies were able to act on information in minutes that might otherwise have taken days or weeks to develop,” a spokesperson said in the release.
