FBI report outlines dangers of human trafficking in the South

A new FBI report studies the rate of human trafficking over the last decade with data showing the south has the highest number of trafficking cases and drug offenses. From 2013 to 2022 – there were nearly 9,000 cases of human trafficking, with more than half happening in the south.
Aug 29 / WJBF
“This is a macon, an albany, a savannah problem – this is rural, this is urban. This can happen everywhere,” said FBI spokesperson, Tony Thomas. The FBI says the south has the highest number of cases but is also the largest region and with the largest population.

“A large population for one, nice weather and a lot of people want to come down here and there’s a lot of conventions here in the south and interstates that transgress the south. Those are all factors that increase factors in our region,” said Thomas.

The most common range of victims were 13-19 year old with 8 out of 10 victims being women. Six out of ten victims were white and about a quarter of trafficking victims were African American. “Maybe you see someone at a store who is with a different adult or a the same adult that is not their parent, they are letting that adult make that decision those are all signs of human trafficking,” said Thomas.

The FBI says there are more than 90 task forces across the country to investigate trafficking cases
“One big myth is that the victims are being kidnapped. This is a crime of opportunity and a crime of psychology and are not being nabbed of the street,” said Thomas.

During the trafficking busts — investigators say marijuana, meth and cocaine were the top 3 reported drug types recovered.

The FBI says the top 3 additional offenses associated with human trafficking include promoting prosecution, rape and pornogarphic/obscene material.