LAPD: Over 200 people arrested on human trafficking charges in the San Fernando Valley

On Monday, Councilwoman Nury Martinez and LAPD Deputy Chief Bob Green announced over 200 arrests had been made, as a result of a major San Fernando Valley area human trafficking task force.

In October 2015, with the assistance of Councilwoman Martinez, LAPD Operations-Valley Bureau (OVB) established a dedicated human trafficking task force to concentrate on the corridors that run along Sepulveda Blvd. and Lankershim Blvd, primarily in the City's 6th Council District, represented by Martinez. This summer Councilwoman Martinez secured a $1 million budget allocation to fund this task force going forward.

"There has always been a prostitution problem in these areas, ever since I was a little girl," said Martinez, who grew up in the area. "Working with LAPD, we've been able to re-direct our focus on the predators who buy and sell our women and girls, and we're proud to announce hundreds of arrests."

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