Authorities announced last Wednesday that a multi-day online sexual exploitation sting, dubbed Operation Chatter Box, resulted in 15 individuals arrested.

Held from Aug. 17-25, the operation was led by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF) and Homeland Security Investigations’ Child Exploitation Group (HSI-CEG) in hopes of combating the sexual exploitation of children.

“The internet should never be a hunting ground for those who seek to exploit children,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. “Operation Chatter Box sends an unmistakable message: if you go online looking to harm a child, law enforcement will be there waiting.”

Undercover agents, using fake personas ranging from ages 10 to 16, used online platforms to interact with the suspects. They agreed to pay for or engage in sexual activity and were sent to a predetermined location where they were then arrested.