Federal Bureau of Investigation - Denver Division -Human Trafficking Brochure

Human Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. It occurs when someone recruits, harbors, transports, or obtains a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for many purposes including sexual exploitation and/or forced labor. Any activity related to commercial sex involving victims less than 18 years of age is considered a form of trafficking regardless of whether the victim was forced into that type of work.

Traffickers often target women and children who are poor, unemployed, and who do not have access to an adequate social network. Victims are then lured away with promises of well paying jobs and better lives only to be subjected to the most inhumane conditions.

Common tactics used to maintain control over trafficked persons include beatings, torture, starvation, false promises, and threats to members of the victim’s family. Additionally, traffickers can hold their victims hostage using any one of the following techniques:

· Debt Bondage - victim is forced to repay a financial obligation that generally includes an inflated smuggling fee as well as other costs of living

· Isolation - victim is prohibited from seeing family, friends, or members of the community that might offer support or encourage their escape

Traffickers may also confiscate the victim’s passport, visa, other important documents, and any money in their possession in order to keep them from running away.

The FBI recognizes human trafficking is a serious problem and is committed to reducing its presence in the United States. The FBI’s Human Trafficking Program falls under the FBI’s Civil Rights Program which ranks #5 among the FBI’s top 10 investigative priorities.

Human trafficking has been referred to as an “invisible” crime because perpetrators go to great lengths to hide their activity. However, individuals in the community can play an active role in reducing trafficking by being on the lookout for signs such as:

Individuals who engage in human trafficking are often members of the victim’s own ethnic or national community. They have legal residence in the U.S., have a strong command of English and their native language, and may have substantial social or political influence in their home country. Traffickers can also include:

· International criminal organizations that “diversify” their operations by bringing humans into the U.S. using the same routes used to smuggle drugs or weapons

· Family businesses that often have members in both countries and use romantic relationships to lure victims into forced labor

· Independently owned businesses with contractors/agents who provide laborers for low-skilled jobs

· Diplomats and other high-powered foreign nationals who use their substantial influence to force victims to work for them as domestic servants

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) (Title 18 U.S.C. Sections 1589-1594) was passed in 2000 to strengthen federal criminal laws prohibiting human trafficking and improve immigration benefits for qualified persons. The TVPA is a “victim-centered” law whereby the trafficking victim is viewed as a victim of crime even if they are present in the U.S. illegally.

Many successful human trafficking investigations were initiated based simply on a “tip” or information received by individuals who may be aware of, or witness to, some form of wrongdoing.

If you would like to report information regarding possible human trafficking or to obtain more information, please contact the Denver Division of the FBI.

*Potential human trafficking information may also be reported through the Internet

Facts about Human Trafficking

According to the U.S. State Department, 18,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into this country each year. More than 80% of victims are women and girls; of those, 70% are forced into sexual servitude such as prostitution, striping, pornography, or mail order brides.

In addition, 32% of all victims are forced to work as domestic servants. Most of these individuals are hired by families and are kept in isolation with only limited contact with the public. Approximately 12% are forced into servitude on migrant farms, labor camps or ranches throughout the country.