Human trafficking in Charleston area

    A State Law Enforcement Division special agent, the closed blinds, surveillance camera and long hours all point to one thing: human trafficking. That human traffickers are active in communities across South Carolina, targeting victims of all ages, genders, races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Task Force reported 139 cases of human trafficking in 2020. In the South Carolina state courts there were ten people were charged with 13 charges of human trafficking. Horry County had the highest number of human trafficking reports.

    

    Homeland Security Investigations’ Charleston field office launched operations to combat the crime in the Charleston area. HSI has broad authority to conduct criminal investigations into transnational crimes. Also like money laundering, narcotics smuggling, financial fraud, human rights violations and other crimes.

    HSI agents and local law enforcement partners are knocking on hotel doors. The public should watch for signs of human trafficking. Law enforcement officers want to rescue and support victims.

Nigeria Trafficking

    Nigeria has the highest rates of human trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, the National Agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons identified 20,000 trafficked Nigerian girls in Mali alone. During 2019, NAPTIP received 938 cases of alleged trafficking for investigations. They prosecuted 64 people and 43 traffickers. There is small organization group known as Link Sisters.

     The Link sisters report to the coordinator in the congregation, Sr. Justina Nelson, about a suspected case of human trafficking for action that would lead to the rescue of victims. On a group through WhatsApp were the Link sisters share information and take action against human trafficking when needed. They use it to track and strategize against the different schemes used by traffickers.  

    

    The rural families are often targeted by traffickers with with false promises of jobs and scholarships. Sometimes local athletes are vulnerable with football players being approached for opportunities which turn out to be trafficking rings or for harvesting human organs. The Nigeria Conference of Women Religious and nonprofits across the country are working together on projects against human trafficking.    

 Hoping something would stop you 

Words coming out of my throat

Murder she wrote

In the room he changed everything

Unbuttoning my pants

Locking the door

What are you doing this for?

By my lonely

 Laying on the bed

Covering my head

I do not want to imagine his touch

But inside I am already dead

Just like he said

But the torture has begun

I just want to run

But he is always there

Just wake me up from this nightmare

Silent

 I sat still in panic and wondered why

Made me believe I was in the wrong

I am where I do not belong

When he is the blame 

It is a shame

Would he come back?

He might attack

He knows my face

Even my name

But he is the one to blame

oh why

 Hearing the footsteps during the bright

Something inside me screamed this is not right

I want to scream but I cannot shout

My mind is in doubt

As he pulls his pants down

I just want my tears to make me drown

The only thing that will not fall is my crown

L O S T

Sold for money

Living in the shadows 

My body is broken

Used and unseen

Will someone save me?

I feel like screaming

I wonder if they could hear?

Might have to disappear.

Misunderstood

 I am a human

with my rights

I am not a slave

To be ordered around

Displayed outside the agency

I breathe fear

There is no comfort

All the pain suffered.

Survivor

 You almost made me stumble

Some words I could not even mumble

All the times I yelled

Saying "NO!"

Just let me go

All the scars unseen

Things I have never seen

Please set me free. 

Battle Scars

 Makeup to cover up

All the bruises on the body

Shirts with long sleeves

So nobody will see

Staying quiet about it

It will stop one day hopefully

Maybe a pill will numb the pain

When they get sober

That is when they take over.

#NotAllMenButEnough

 I'm tired of explaining consent

Body is not up for debate

If you call others they may not believe

We have tried the calls

Avoiding the nights walking alone

Tried screaming & running

Crossing the roads

Hiding in the crowds

Not one thing seems to change

Until the men that do it do.