After an alleged human trafficking bust in Metro Detroit, a local organization is emphasizing the importance of looking for warning signs.
Hope Against Trafficking is a local organization that set out to do something about the problem of human trafficking in Michigan.
“It’s in every zip code,” said Hope board member Karen Ewing.
Ewing and her colleagues educate the community about potential red flags that could indicate a human trafficking situation.
“Are there bruises? Do they know where they live? Do they know even who they are with? Sometimes they don’t even know who they are with,” Ewing said about human trafficking victims. “We’re looking for signs that would tell us something isn’t right.”
If something seems suspicious, Ewing said people should not hesitate to call 911 or a human trafficking hotline.
According to police, tips from the community helped lead to the recent human trafficking bust.
“This is a great example of ‘see something, say something’. In our town, at least, it started off with residents or citizens seeing something suspicious and taking that step to report it. Our detectives investigated and found out that it was much larger than we suspected,” St. Clair Shores Deputy Police Chief Paul Plaza said.
In light of this recent investigation, Hope Against Trafficking wants to emphasize the human trafficking statistics.
According to the organization, a family member sells 40% of trafficked children, and 99% of trafficked victims are never identified.
More: 5 arrested, charged in Metro Detroit human trafficking ring