The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced that the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will participate in a five-day Human Trafficking Awareness initiative from January 9 through January 13, 2023. The initiative is a concentrated effort to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers, law enforcement officers and the general public about human trafficking, what signs to look for and what to do in the situations.

Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation of a person through force, fraud or coercion. It can be in the form of sex trafficking, forced labor or domestic servitude and is not specific to age, race or gender. It occurs in rural, suburban and urban areas across Missouri.

Human traffickers are motivated by greed, exploiting the most vulnerable for $150 billion annually. The crime takes place in every U.S. and Mexican state and throughout Canadian provinces.

Signs of human trafficking may include:

-The presence of an older boyfriend or girlfriend;
-Travel with an older male or female who is not a guardian;
-Signs of psychological coercion, such as depression, anxiety and/or an overly submissive attitude;
-Lack of control over his or her schedule, money and/or items proving identification;
-Physical trauma;
-Poor health;
-Coached or rehearsed responses to questions;
-Substance abuse or addictions, selling drugs or homelessness.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is joining agencies across the United States, Canada and Mexico for this Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance initiative.