It is believed human trafficking is the third largest criminal industry in today’s world. Human trafficking is not limited to third world countries. It occurs here in the United States more than one would believe. Men, women, children and even newborns are victims. A victim is someone who is compelled through force or coercion to perform acts of labor including commercial sex. Traffickers have been known to target people who appear to be the most vulnerable and are easily influenced. A common place traffickers recruit from are our local schools. A variety of methods are used. Some of the more common methods are:
- Abduction
- Threats and force or other forms of coercion
- Fraud and deception
- Payments or benefits made to achieve control or exploitation
- The promise of a job or living conditions that does not match reality
- Making alcohol and drugs available
Once under the trafficker’s control, many times the victims are beaten, starved and forced to work as prostitutes or take jobs with little or no pay. In some instances, the victims are smuggled into foreign countries where they are bought and sold as slaves.
When someone goes missing and is suspected of being a victim of human trafficking, the first and foremost thing to do is report it to local law enforcement. Private investigators are often used in addition to local law enforcement and in many cases the victim is recovered in a short period of time.
A private investigators primary goal is the recovery of the victim and to remove them from an environment of violence and exploitation. Investigations may include interviews with persons who may have had recent contact with the victim or know information that may be helpful in recovering them. In addition, surveillance is commonly used to identify and track persons of interest.
If you suspect human trafficking has occurred in your community or schools, or someone you know may have fallen victim to, it is important that you act swiftly to protect the victims. Time is of the essence as the longer the crime goes unreported, the higher the risk that the victim will not be recovered.
