Putting an end to a $100 billion human trafficking industry

UPDATE 7/12/2018 5:30 p.m.: Human trafficking, considered modern day slavery, is the use of force, fraud or coercion to get some kind of labor or sex act. It’s an illegal industry seen across the world, estimated to be worth $100 billion dollars.

“We’re talking 40 million people being trafficked worldwide,” said Assistant District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni.

California is one of the nation’s top four states for trafficking. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said victims are often hiding in plain sight.

“Human trafficking is a serious issue here in our community,” said Deborah Pembrook, an outreach advocate for the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center.

In June, more than 10 men and women were found living inside cargo containers at a Salinas pot farm, possibly victims of human trafficking. In February, four men were arrested for allegedly pimping out teenage girls.

According to the DA’s Office, women and children fall victim to trafficking, but the labor industry is also affected.

“Trafficking in people’s homes with domestic servitude, trafficking in the fields,” Pembrook said. “There’s trafficking that’s been in restaurants, really many different sectors.”

On Thursday, volunteers and members of the Human Trafficking Enforcement Program made sure posters about the issue were in obvious spots for all to see. Five years ago, Senate Bill 1193 was passed, mandating certain businesses post a notice to let people know about human trafficking and how they can report it. These businesses include truck stops, hospitals, job recruitment centers and massage or other bodywork establishments.

These notices were sent to the appropriate businesses earlier this year. Now volunteers are making sure they were in compliance.

Pembrook took KION on a compliance check to a truck stop, hospital and transit center.

“Most of the businesses we’ve gone to have had the poster posted and the other places, we know that they just need to be educated,” Pembrook said.

Businesses that don’t have the posters up have 30 days to put them up, or face fines.

“If they don’t comply at the end of 30 days, then they’ll receive a fine for $500 for first offense, a $1,000 for a second offense,” Pacioni said. “We really want compliance so today is a day of educating.”

ORIGINAL POST: Officials in Monterey County are trying to put an end to a $100-billion human trafficking industry.

Thursday, volunteers and members of the human trafficking enforcement team from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office made sure businesses were complying and posting notices.

Five years ago Senate bill 1193 was passed, mandating certain businesses post a notice to let people know about human trafficking. What human trafficking is and a number where people can report it. These businesses include truck stops, transit centers, and hospitals. But the DA’s office noticed the flyers weren’t being put up.

Earlier this year, they sent flyers to the appropriate businesses. Today volunteers made sure these businesses had the posters in an obvious place.

“Public awareness is increasing and that’s a good thing, because now we’re going to be able to see it more clearly if we know where to look for it,” said Assistant District Attorney, Jeannine Pacioni.

We’ve had several high profile cases of human trafficking, including the men and women found living inside cargo containers at a Salinas pot farm last month and in February, four men were accused of forcing teenaged girls into prostitution.

KION’s Mariana Hicks went along on a compliance check earlier today. Find out the results of that tonight at 6 p.m.