According to a recent report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, over 8,700 incidents of human trafficking were reported between 2013 and 2022.
Over the course of the last nine years, there has been a significant surge in the number of reported incidents, as per the available data.
According to the FBI, there has been an increase in the number of reported incidents, offenses, and victims of human trafficking since 2013.
According to the latest available data from 2022, there were a total of 2,378 reported incidents of human trafficking.
According to the FBI, over 4,500 of these incidents took place in the South, which accounts for approximately 51.5% of all incidents in the United States.
According to the FBI, drugs were involved in nearly 60% of the cases in the South.
The FBI is currently investigating over 1,600 cases of human trafficking, according to a spokesperson who spoke with Channel 2 Action News. The victims most commonly targeted by human traffickers are individuals between the ages of 13 and 19 years old.
Jennifer Sellitto, an official from the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, stated that the South has reported the highest number of human trafficking incidents by local law enforcement in the past decade.
According to the federal law enforcement agency, it is important for individuals to understand that incidents like this can occur to anyone, anywhere in the United States. These occurrences are not isolated to specific regions.
According to the FBI, there are certain signs that could indicate human trafficking, and it’s important to be aware of them. One of the signs is when children withdraw from their friends and usual activities, showing changes in their behavior. Another sign is if they are exhibiting signs of abuse. Additionally, if they come home with gifts such as expensive clothes or cell phones, it could also be an indication of human trafficking. It’s crucial to remain vigilant and take action if any of these signs are present.
Speaking openly with your children about their internet usage is crucial, as emphasized by Sellitto.
Sellitto advises parents to remain vigilant of their children’s computer and social media activities. It is crucial to monitor their interactions as they may unknowingly engage with individuals who pretend to be their age, but are actually much older. This can lead to physical encounters with strangers, which can be dangerous.
According to the FBI, they initiated a total of 664 human trafficking cases and made 145 associated arrests in the previous fiscal year. These numbers were slightly lower than the previous year’s figures.
