National Human Trafficking Prevention Month highlights ongoing crisis

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- January marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking and learning to spot signs and report it.

According to the U.S. Department of State, there are estimated to be over 27.6 million people — adults and children — subjected to human trafficking around the world, including in the United States.

Missouri ranks 12th in the nation for the highest rate of human trafficking, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation's data from 2024.

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 272 human trafficking cases were identified in Missouri in 2024, involving 539 victims. A single case may involve multiple victims.

Missouri Department of Transportation Commercial Motor Vehicle Program Manager Heather Lubbert said human trafficking starts with vulnerability.

“Traffickers will identify what those vulnerabilities are. They will prey on them, she said. Unfortunately, the victims that are involved sometimes become dependent on the gifts and the love and the support, and all of the things they are seeking.”

MSHP Sgt. Shane Hux said most human traffickers in Northwest Missouri target their victims online.

"Where they meet somebody, a complete stranger that they don't know. They offer them gifts, make them promises and it doesn't turn out to be that way for them," he said.

Lubbert said certain groups are targeted at a higher rate.

“Individuals with prior abuse, it could also be runaways or the homeless population,” she said. “Our undocumented population is also seeking something and therefore becomes vulnerable to trafficking. As well as people with mental and emotional abilities. Even people with substance dependency or our foster youth who's recently aged out of foster care.”

Lubbert also said victims can have physical, emptional and behavioral signs.

“It’s not uncommon for victims display that evidence of abuse wheater it be malnourishment, burn marks, bruising, cuts, or some type of torture or restraint. Looking for some kind of tattooing or branding that might be identical amongst individuals," said Lubbert. "Just be kind of feelings of fear, hopelessness, submissiveness, or might be poor posture, or just not making eye contact with you, or lack of facial expressions. An individual showing up with something out of the blue, suddenly they got this brand new dream job, or they've come into a lot of money or a lot of possessions, jewelry, cellphones, things of that nature that aren’t typically to that an individual."

Hux said many human trafficking cases go unnoticed because most are underreported.

"I think the victims, a lot of times involved in these types of cases, they come from broken homes, they're living on the streets, and so they're very accpective to this type of behavior, whenever someone comes in and shows them attention," he said. They think that person is showing them love when they're actually using them for trafficking," said Hux.

Hux said he encourages people not to approach anyone suspected of trafficking.

"Always call 9-1-1 or *55 for the highway patrol. I think what the misconception is that somebody has this perfect picture of what human trafficking looks like, and that's always not the case," he said. "If you suspect something, it needs to be reported so it can be investigated."

Lubbert said that talking about trafficking can prevent it.

"Talk among our families, our loved ones and our children. Talk about it within the community and make sure that we continue to talk about it year-round, she said. “Continue to educate ourselves on what human trafficking is, because I think we so often want to believe it's not happening in Missouri, and it's certainly not happening in our community.”

Anyone who suspects human trafficking or is a victim is encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline website or call 888-373-7888.