If you were asked what the fastest-growing organized crime in America was, would you have any idea? You might assume it involved illegal weapons or drugs. However, that guess would be wrong. Instead, the singular fastest-growing organized crime in the United States is none other than human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery. This issue and how our organization Saved in America is working to address it uniquely is the subject of an interesting video posted by VICE News HBO. 

The Victims

Although victims can come from virtually any walk of life and any state within the nation, the vast majority are from homes that are broken, leaving these kids vulnerable and without the support they need to live safe and healthy lives. In addition, most kids who are victims of the human trafficking industry begin as a runaway. This presents a problem when it comes to law enforcement as they deal with such cases. They see runaways as an on-emergency or a noncriminal issue. The kids choose to run away, and in many cases will choose to come back. As such, these cases are not made a priority over much more pressing matters. This has created a void, especially in San Diego where the human trafficking numbers are extremely high, where kids are slipping through the cracks and no one is fighting to bring them back home. Until Saved in America stepped in. 

The SEALS and Other Specialists

The former professionals who make up the volunteer team at Saved in America come from various backgrounds. However, they are all former law enforcement or military specialists who have training that equips them to oversee cases like this that demand a great deal of reconnaissance work and surveillance. The team often goes undercover to find these kids and then gets the police involved in rescuing them from the situation they find themselves trapped within. Often, kids will run away on their own, yes, but it is usually at the behest of a predator who is highly skilled at manipulation and who is telling them exactly what they want to hear to get them away from their safe spaces. Then, they will swoop in, and the child is caught in a web of horror before they even know what hit them. Thankfully, the team at SIA is working to combat this evil every day and will continue to do so for as long as possible.