Between July and Oct., police and others reported 123 cases of human trafficking in North Carolina, including 15 in Raleigh.
Only Charlotte, with 21 reports, had more, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
Human trafficking has become more prominent throughout North Carolina, probably because more immigrants are coming to the state, according to Michelle Lore, a graduate student in sociology.
A man was sentenced to 24 years in prison for operating a sex trade between Charlotte and Washington, according to Charlotte-based WBTV. A Duke University official was charged with trafficking a 5-year-old boy for sex. A North Carolina mother was charged with trafficking and murder of her 5-year-old daughter.
10,000 prostitutes were trafficked to Miami in 2010 for the Super Bowl, according to Forbes. A 2011 study conducted by Traffick911 found that Super Bowl online escort ads increased from 135 to 367 in mid-January as the Super Bowl approached.
Lore, who is writing her dissertation on human trafficking, said she believes high agricultural production and the ease of travel, with the state’s extensive interstate system, have created fertile ground for human traffickers in North Carolina.
Between 15,000 and 18,000 people are drafted into slavery every year in the United States, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which estimates two million people are drafted into slavery worldwide.
Despite the statistics, Lore sees denial of human trafficking as a serious problem in the United States.
“There is certainly a misconception that it is a problem that doesn’t affect America or American citizens,” Lore said.
The United States could effectively fight human trafficking by creating more accessible, transparent ways to allow immigrants to come here legally, Lore said.
“One of the big problems is there are people that want to come to the United States to work and can’t do it legally, so they depend on smugglers,” Lore said. “Smugglers are in the position of power, and they can put [their subjects] in exploitative work conditions.”
Awareness provides the best defense, Lore said.
Faith-based groups throughout North Carolina are leading the fight against prostitution and human trafficking, Lore said. Non-governmental organizations, like NC Stop Human Trafficking, also raise awareness and connect groups fighting against human trafficking.
“When there’s more money to be made, people are going to take advantage of it, and that’s what this is about,” Charity Magnuson, who runs NC Stop, told Charlotte-based WSOC-TV. “This is a $32 billion industry.”
Other organizations campaigning against human trafficking locally are North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, The Salvation Army and World Relief Durham.
Lore hopes her research will shine light on male victims who suffer from trafficking as well.
The U.S. Department of Education website issued a list of behaviors that might suggest human-trafficking victimization, including unexplained absences for extended periods of time, references about travelling to other cities, inappropriate clothing or references to sexual situations.
