MODOT joins fight against human trafficking

Employees will learn how to spot and report potential cases of human trafficking. MODOT took the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge, an initiative for transportation and travel industries to fight human trafficking.

Training MODOT employees to spot human trafficking will help identify victims traveling across the state, said Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Founding Member Nanette Ward.

“The brothel that was in Columbia on Vandiver, that young person did travel highways with an older gentleman to bring her to Columbia,” Ward said.

She said it’s important for people to realize victims are all genders, ages and races.

“Missouri born and raised, it could be a foreign born person brought into our city,” she said. “Someone who has a drug addiction, it could be someone who is a high school straight A student living at home with mom and dad.”

Missouri ranked 16th in the nation for the highest number of human trafficking cases reported in 2017.

Businesses with the potential for high levels of human trafficking will be required to hang posters with the national human trafficking hotline. This includes truck stops, bus stations, strip clubs airports and some hotels. The requirement is effective starting March 1, 2019.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign works to spread awareness for human trafficking.

Campaign Executive Director, Mick McKeown said trafficking happens in both big cities and small towns and there are indicators to watch out for. He said people should not ignore situations that don’t feel right.

“Why are these group of people together, if someone seems malnourished or if something just doesn’t, for lack of a better word, pass your smell test, that can be a red flag,” he said.

McKeown said one indicator is if a person does not have access to their I.D.

“That can happen anywhere, whether you are at the pharmacy, the bank, airport, or a truck stop,” McKeown said.

If a person suspects human trafficking, McKeown said to contact law enforcement. Or call the Blue Campaign tipline at 1-866-347-2423.

For more information and resources on human trafficking visit the Blue Campaign website, here.