The FBI and Virginia’s law enforcement agencies have a new ally in their efforts to combat sex trafficking. As result, this partnership will lend potentially thousands of eyes and ears in places that police may not frequent, but truckers do, and pimps target.
"Truckers Against Trafficking" provides awareness and tools to those in the industry about signs of sex trafficking. The truckers and law enforcement have been exchanging ideas about the challenges associated with catching sex traffickers and best practices to combat it.
TAT’s William Brady says pimps target hotels and truck stops with possible markets for prostitution. He says the traffickers use social media to network, then aggressively force victims to sell their bodies. He describes one recent Virginia incident where a trucker intervened.
"The gentleman, sitting at a truck stop, saw this motor home. It looked out of place -- blocked out windows, and he happened to see a face peek through the curtains and then it was violently ripped back. And there's numerous guys knocking on the doors and stuff like this and---something's wrong."
He says the police were called and learned a couple had abducted the girl. The traffickers were prosecuted and the child returned to her parents. FBI, State Police, and other agencies say this partnership will be an invaluable resource in a larger network that’s committed to catching traffickers.