State Attorney General Rob Bonta launched two new anti-human trafficking teams on Friday.
According to an Associated Press report, the teams will consist of 13 special agents and two crime analysts.
Along with the new teams, Bonta has been discussing with Gov. Newsom to include in the final state budget another $30 million in grants, in addition to an existing $30 million in grants, over the next three years dedicated to human trafficking.
The final budget is still under review, set to be passed by July 1.
The new effort to tackle human trafficking arrives during a dramatic increase in labor and sexual exploitation across California during the pandemic.
Lockdown over the last year and a half exacerbated the issues, officials said Friday. With everything shut down, victims had a much harder time escaping and seeking support.
Kay Buck, the chief executive officer for Los Angeles-based nonprofit Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, called it “the most unforgettable and heart-wrenching year.”
A 185% spike in urgent human trafficking cases during the pandemic was in Los Angeles alone, Buck said.
Due to the pandemic, advocates saw a huge demand for services combined with the lack of resources, Buck added.
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