In early morning hours of November 9th, 2010, several plainclothes police officers entered the adult magazine distributors' territory on Pacific Highway in San Diego, California. Their mission was to confiscate all adult material being sold illegally by the vendors due to their proximity to schools and churches. The undercover investigation had been going on for months prior to this date, and many vendors were arrested during that time. However, this raid was different because it was highly publicized and involved a large scale operation.
The operation was called "Operation Desert Storm," and it involved both local and federal agents from various agencies working together to execute the raid. They arrived at the scene shortly before sunrise to ensure that they could catch all vendors selling magazines without drawing too much attention to themselves. Officers seized approximately $50,0000 worth of merchandise, including hundreds of copies of Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, and other adult publications. In addition, they also took away computers, cash registers, and other equipment used to operate the business.
During the course of the raid, some vendors resisted arrest and attempted to flee from the scene. One vendor even brandished a gun while attempting to escape but was quickly subdued and taken into custody. Another vendor refused to cooperate with authorities and threatened them with violence if they tried to take his inventory. Despite these obstacles, law enforcement successfully completed the task and made multiple arrests for possession of child pornography as well as illegal distribution of obscene materials.
The 2010 San Diego Magazine Vendor Raid marked an important moment in history regarding free speech rights in California. It sparked debate over whether or not police should be allowed to enter private property without probable cause and confiscate items without due process. The ACLU argued that the raid violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure, while proponents claimed that it helped protect children from inappropriate material.