Human Trafficking

Human beings are being bought and sold and its an industry thats quickly become big business. Now, detectives are stepping up their efforts to try to identify human trafficking victims and they need your help.
Its an illegal business second only in profitability to the drug trafficking industry and its happening right here in Southwest Florida. The suspects are brokers who deal in the sale of human beings trapping women and children into lives of prostitution, physical and mental abuse.
In terms of viciousness of a crime, its horrible. I cant believe that we, as a society, have actually created a market to traffic humans in exchange for money," said Detective Mike Zaleski of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Law enforcement and other non-governmental agencies are stepping up their efforts to define the magnitude of the problem locally and to identify and rescue those trapped in lives that could best be defined as modern day slavery.
Coyotes, or recruiters, prey on vulnerable victims using threats and intimidation, or even promises of a better life, to bring them into the United States. Here, they become slaves, kept away from society and forced to serve as prostitutes and unpaid laborers. Theyre bought and sold as mere commodities stripped of their core human dignity.
Investigators have documented more than 100 cases of human trafficking locally over the last few years. While most involve victims brought in from other countries, domestic trafficking is also an issue. Just a few weeks ago, two Southwest Florida teens fell prey to the entrapments of traffickers.
They were transported across the state, specifically for the purpose of prostitution and they were trafficking victims," said Zaleski.
And just to our north, in Pinellas County, several victims were rescued from the hands of brutal traffickers.
They were made to be addicted to drugs they were physically abused, caged, and there were not allowed to leave a residence unless for the purposes of stripping in a nightclub or for purposes of prostitution," Zaleski said.
Detectives have embarked on several new efforts to identify trafficking victims through tools such as Craigslist and other internet sites. And theyre asking for the publics help spotting potential victims both online and in our community. They say that one anonymous of something suspicious could make all the difference in saving someones life.
Anyone with information on suspected human trafficking victims or related activities is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for up to $1,000 in cash rewards. Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Crime
• Stoppers

[Peristerygr]

@singplaylaughlove9 Most of the times it is one another: or you become as a skinhead and then you enter in trafficking business because you already treat the victims as "subhumans" or you are in trafficking busyness and you become Nazi because it suites to your economical interests!;)

And in that last you can get why there are only six comments. Go to a video talking about refugees (I think the traffickers main "supplier") and see how many and what kind of comments are there!

[singplaylaughlove9]

@Peristerygr Ah, I know what you mean. Also, most Skinheads hardly view those who are trafficked as human beings. Therefore peoples' chances of being saved and taken out of trafficking are slim to none. It's pretty sad.

[Peristerygr]

Of course: 1) many skinheads (I believe most) are also involved in traficking and pimping business 2) the 95% of traficking victims are from abroad -of wherever they are working- mainly from less developed countries (Latin America, Eastern Europe, South Asia, Africa etc etc) and as such they are illegal immigrants! The stricter antiimigration measures that right wingers demand benefit the penders' business 3) racism make natives less willing to help the victims -as they hate them! Was I simple?

[singplaylaughlove9]

@Peristerygr What? Haha can you explain that with a bit more simplicity please?

[Peristerygr]

@singplaylaughlove9 Of course there are only six! The political represntatives of traffickers( far right wingers, conservatives, fascists Nazis) can't say anything racistic and make any hate comments through their clone-agents without exposing their true ideology!

[singplaylaughlove9]

It's amazing that this is one of the biggest ways to make a profit in the world, yet there are only six comments on this video. Guess that goes to show just how much the world pays attention, eh?

[leadam12]

This makes me sick and so ANGRY. How can a human being do this to another?

Man this world is just so messed up!!!

[liz1890]

yes its happening everywhere!! there's more slaves now than there ever was in history!! there's been cases of human trafficking in all 50 states. The worst part is that perpetrators prey on the most vulnerable, including foster kids, the poor, and youth.

[unserdeutschland]

does anyone buy these people and then set them free?

[JessicaAimee59]

What's craziest about this, is you think it's in other countries only.. I live in FLORIDA and I am floored to hear that it is in my own state. I'm disgusted.