Human Trafficking is a very lucrative profession. Women and children of all ages are abducted from their homes, the playground or neighborhood park, places of employment, even while shopping. But that only happens in third world countries, right?
Human Trafficking is the exploitation by force, fraud or coercion of vulnerable people for forced labor, domestic servitude or commercial sex operations.
Human Trafficking is the exploitation by force, fraud or coercion of vulnerable people for forced labor, domestic servitude or commercial sex operations.
DID YOU KNOW: In June 2003, the FBI in conjunction with the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children launched the Innocence Lost National Initiative. Their combined efforts were aimed at addressing the growing problem of domestic sex trafficking of children in the United States. In the five years since its inception, the initiative has resulted in the development of 24 dedicated task forces and working groups throughout the U.S. involving federal, state and local law agencies working in tandem with U.S. Attorney's Offices.
Statistics (as of June 2008)
Children Recovered: 433
Seizures: Over $3 million
Convictions: 308
Task Forces and Working Groups: 24
Ivestigations have successfully led to the conviction of more than 300 pimps, madams, and their associates who exploit children and women through prostitution. These convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences including multiple 25-year-to-life sentences and the seizure of real property, vehicles, and monetary assets.
Clues that may help you identify a possible trafficing victim:
1) Accompanied by a controlling person or boss: not speaking on own behalf
2.) Lack of control over personal schedule, money, I.D., travel documents
3) Transported to and from work; lives and work
4) Debt owed to employer/crew leader; inability to leave job
5) Bruises, depression, fear, overly submissive
SUCCESS STORY
•Susie, 39 years old, was in high spirits at the airport in Mombasa. She boarded a plane on her way to Germany to spend a three-month holiday, courtesy of her 'boyfriend' who had lavished gifts on her. All hopes of an exciting, wonderful stay in a foreign land were shattered on arrival in Germany, when her boyfriend/trafficker confiscated her passport and denied her food for several days before informing her that she would work as a sex slave. She was raped repeatedly, beaten, and threatened with death. After enduring gross exploitation, Susie used a cell phone to call police. s in the same place
