Human trafficking incident in Columbia brings light on the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Human trafficking victim groups are concerned over the lack of knowledge in the Columbia community concerning the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world.
On Friday night, authorities detained two suspects and are now investigating after a human trafficking operation led to the discovery and rescue of nine victims and two children at the Holiday Inn East Columbia.
Nanette Ward with the Stop Human Trafficking Coalition of Central Missouri described trafficking as, "the exploitation of vulnerability." Ward said this involves someone who is taken advantage of for commercial sex or for forced labor for someone else's profit.
Between 2008 and 2019, the number of human trafficking victims worldwide more than tripled from 30,961 to 105,787. Ward says as the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, it should not be overlooked in smaller areas of the world.
"There's cases that go back a long time even right here in Columbia," said Ward. "We have a survivor who is almost 30 and was a minor when she was trafficked, so this is not only happening in the big cities."
Ward said the increase in social media apps and pornography use is a huge part of the increase in sex trafficking. She said the demand is more for females in sex trafficking and children are a large percentage.
Studies show that 70% of trafficking victims are female. The highest percentage of female victims are found in the 18-20 age group.
Ward said indicators that someone is being sex trafficked can be broken down into three different categories of physical, behavioral, and control. Physical indicators would be if someone who is bruised, more tired than normal, dealing with a drug addiction that didn't have before. Behavioral indicators could be being more secretive, on social media a lot more engaging with people, or what they're saying sounds scripted. Control indicators could be if someone's stories do not align with what they said before and are not making close relations with other people.
According to Ward, recognizing that this is happening to people in our community is the first step in helping these people. Being aware of one's surroundings and knowing that there are people looking to take advantage of others. She also said being cautious about sharing a large amount of personal information on social media is a preventative strategy.
Rise Coalition, True North, and Relentless Pursuit provided victim services at the Holiday Inn rescue last night including food, lodging, onsite medical services, counseling/therapy and drug rehabilitation.
