Human trafficking is defined by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as the act of taking a person by using either force or coercion to exploit them for some reason. Put simply, human trafficking is defined as modern human slavery, no matter whether for sexual, violent or work-related needs. This is a growing problem nationwide that has therefore garnered the attention of many branches of the federal government including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The FBI considers it one of their main duties to track down and investigate all instances of human trafficking. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reported that between January of 2008 and June of 2010, there were over 2,500-suspected incidents of human trafficking. Of these, eight out of every ten were reportedly linked to sex trafficking and one was linked to labor.
Elements of human trafficking cases
Just how does one determine what is considered to be human trafficking? According to UNODC, there are three main elements to any case of human trafficking. These involve the following:
- The Act of Trafficking – This is what is actually committed. This includes the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring and receipt of persons illegally.
- The Means of Trafficking – This is how the act is carried out. Typically, this involves threat, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of a position of power, or even payment.
- The Purpose of Trafficking – This is why the act was carried out in the first place. This could be prostitution or another sexual purpose, labor, slavery or organ removal.
How the FBI is involved in human trafficking cases
Due to the widespread damage that is caused by human trafficking, the FBI has taken an invested interest into the investigation of cases relating to this type of crime. They therefore work closely with all forms of law enforcement agencies, both locally and nationally, to crack down on this type of crime. In fact, it is reported that they are involved in over 71 different task forces around the U.S.
With their considerable resources and growing interest, they will likely build considerably large cases by the time that you are even made aware that a case is made against you. This could put you at a disadvantage from the very start. Since 2004, the FBI has almost doubled the amount of investigations that they have open at any given time – going from 86 in 2004 to 167 in 2009.
Don’t let your rights be violated. If you have been wrongfully accused of human trafficking or if you have reason to believe that you are under investigation, you need to act quickly to ensure that your legal rights are defended. This is not the type of criminal case to take lightly or just brush off. You need to be confident you are doing everything possible to protect your rights.
Why you need an experienced criminal lawyer
These types of criminal actions are nothing to take lightly. If you have been criminally charged, you need to make sure that you are doing everything in your power to provide aggressive and hard-hitting legal assistance when it matters most. If you have been arrested and would like to discuss your case with an attorney renowned for their criminal ability, do not hesitate to turn to our team at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP. With over 60 years of combined experience, we know what it takes to protect your rights. You can trust that we will go above and beyond in our efforts to fight for you. Contact us today or take advantage of our free online case evaluation.