January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the Michigan State Police (MSP) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is teaming up with their counterparts from across the nation to raise awareness of human trafficking.
From January 13th through January 17th, MSP motor carrier officers will join their collogues in law enforcement, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), the organization, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to educate commercial vehicle drivers about the signs of human trafficking and to enforce laws that crack down on traffickers. The goal of the week-long, nationwide initiative is to educate individuals in positions to observe human trafficking taking place, such as commercial motor vehicle drivers, public transportation companies, rest area attendants and truck stop employees, so they can alert law enforcement.
Individuals can look for these red flags that may indicate a person is being trafficked: often, they do not have control of their identity documents, they appear to be monitored by another person when talking or interacting with others, they show signs of branding or tattooing of a traffickers name (often on the neck) and of bruising, or the observation of a vehicle in a mainly male area dropping women off and picking them up 15-20 minutes later.
“Human Trafficking is a detestable crime, and there is no room for it on our roadways,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “Transportation workers and all who use our public thoroughfares can play a key role in interrupting human trafficking when they learn to recognize the signs and are prepared to report it.”
In 2024, CVED personnel conducted 41 TAT and human trafficking awareness presentations reaching over 1,800 people. These presentations were conducted at rest areas, to trucking companies, civic organizations, victim advocate groups, religious organizations, colleges, police personnel and state agencies. The MSP first partnered with TAT in 2015 and has since been recognized as a national leader in human trafficking awareness and education. For more information about TAT, click here!
To report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resources Center at (888) 373-7888 or text BeFree to 233733.
If any of the red flags listed above seem prominent to you in a public situation, do not be afraid to reach out. It is estimated that anywhere from 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are forced into human trafficking every year! For any more questions, concerns, or if you are interested in what more you can do, click here.
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