Super Bowl lures human trafficking criminals, authorities say

Investigators scour city and websites for victims

Published  5:39 PM CST Jan 31, 2013

Human trafficking is a reality, not only around the world, but also in New Orleans.

Authorities say the Super Bowl will bring more criminals connected to human trafficking, so Local and federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are keeping a very close eye on the problem especially sex trafficking during Super Bowl.

Authorities will be aggressively hitting hotels, bars, and restaurants in the city, urging workers to be on the lookout for a crime.

“Because (victims) are coerced or threatened, they tend to stay in the shadows, which makes it very difficult for us to locate the victims, “ said ICE agent Trey Lund.

Some victims are trafficked from other countries, bribed with lies and false promises, only to come and have their IDs and passports taken away.

But other victims may live in regular neighborhoods.

Former victim Theresa Flores was from an upper class family in Detroit.   She was 15, when her boyfriend drugged and raped her.

Pictures were taken and then used as blackmail. They threatened to hurt her family if she spilled the secret.

“You figure you're lying there in some stranger's house where at least 10 men would come in all the time and you're a teenager, and you don't know how to get out of it, you don't know who to tell you're afraid.  One night I was kidnapped by these guys and taken really far away and left abused probably 20, 30 or 40 times that night,” said Theresa.

That night, she was left for dead on the side of the road.  She woke up the next day on cold concrete, all alone, and badly hurt.

Police found her and took her home.

Human trafficking arrests have gone up over the last few years. Last year, authorities said there were 967 arrests in the US compared to 300 in 2010.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help this Super Bowl. They say call them if you see anything suspicious.

“We want the public to know if they see anything strange, if it just doesn't sit right in their gut, they see young people that aren't doing things young people do, to let us know,” said State Trooper Melissa Matey.

Since most of the solicitations will be happening online, undercover detectives will be spending a lot of time on chats and various websites.

Flores is doing her part, too. She started an organization called Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution (SOAP).

They’ve placed soaps in local hotels and motels with a hotline on the back so victims can pick up the phone and call for help.

Flores partnered with local group Free Nola for the effort.

The group was formed a few years ago, because they’ve noticed the problem escalating in New Orleans.

“We want to save our children, our sisters, our brothers, it can happen to me, or even you,” said Emily Ruffino of Free Nola.

“I'm lucky I was able to escape most people don't escape it most die in this,” said Flores.

Signs of human trafficking are hard to detect but basically, authorities say if something doesn’t look right, that’s a red flag.

Someone who looks out of place, scared or malnourished; someone who is not in control of their ID should all be warning signs.

The number to report human trafficking is 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

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