Part of the Operation Safe Zone display
IMPERIAL – The ICSO has been conducting Operation Safe Zone for the past ten months and recently announced its results. The range of the operation included both “the investigation and prosecution of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation, child enticement and other sexual related crimes against children.”
During this effort, authorities executed search warrants on vehicles, laptops, cell phones and other digital devices.
The ICSO made 50 Child Enticement arrests during this period. These are arrests of people who surf the internet looking for young children to meet for criminal purposes. The adult males were under the impression that they were setting up meetings with 12 and 13-year-old girls.
There were 25 arrests in Imperial County, including 8 from Brawley, 7 from El Centro and 4 from Imperial. Among the other arrests, 8 were in Riverside County and 3 in San Diego County.
The ICSO “encourages parents to remain vigilant with their children’s computers, cellular phones, tablets and other internet enabled devices.”
