This Volunteer Group Rescues Missing Children Who Are Sex Trafficking Victims

Jun 09, 2019 by apost team

We’ve all heard of human sex trafficking before, but what does it really mean for those that become victims?

People that become involuntarily involved in sex trafficking often are drugged and then coerced or forcefully placed into performing sexual activities in order for an exchange of money.

These horrific crimes have a lasting impact on the victims for the rest of their lives, and it’s important to note that many do not make it out of their situation alive.

We’ve all heard of human sex trafficking before, but what does it really mean for those that become victims? People that become involuntarily involved in sex trafficking often are drugged and then coerced or forcefully placed into performing sexual activities in order for an exchange of money.

These horrific crimes have a lasting impact on the victims for the rest of their lives, and it’s important to note that many do not make it out of their situation alive. You may think that this type of criminal activity doesn’t occur in your neck of the woods, but sex trafficking is a problem all around the globe, even in the United States.

In fact, just two years ago in 2017, an organization called the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which allows for anonymous tips about the crime to be reported, found an astounding number of 4,460 cases. Although the number the year prior in 2016 was much higher, at 7,621, we still cannot deny that these numbers are far too high to sit back and do nothing about the awful crime of sex trafficking.

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In order devastating news, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have estimated that one out of every seven missing children often become victims of sex trafficking. Even more grim numbers are added into the equation when the Urban Institute did a research project on eight large cities in the United States. They found that the underground sex trafficking business generates over $290 million dollars in major cities, adding up to a total of $50 billion dollars throughout the entire world. Thankfully, people are standing up to these violent and horrific crimes in order to make sure that no one falls victim to sex trafficking ever again.

A non-profit organization called Saved in America offers their services by obtaining information about children that have gone missing, as well as victims of sex trafficking, in order to cooperate with law enforcement in order to rescue these individuals. The organization is comprised of ex-cops, former Navy SEALs, and other members of the military.

Saved in America has already done so much for victims of sex trafficking when it comes to bringing them home and giving them justice. In one particular case, a 15-year old girl named Seraphine Bustillos was missing. But when the nonprofit organization decided to save her, she was found within 3 months of her disappearance. When she was located, she was found with an older male who had prior criminal convictions.

Saved in America has also worked to locate other young girls, including a 16-year old from California, among many others. But what is the motivation behind this amazing nonprofit organization? Co-founder Joseph Travers recalls a case from 2009 involving Brittanee Drexel that moved him to start saving others. Drexel was allegedly kidnapped, raped, and murdered by her captors. Travers is hoping that with the help of Saved in America, no one will have to go through what she went through. It’s also important to note that the group does not accept any financial compensation for their efforts, as their only goal as a nonprofit is to bring children back home to their families.

“I knew that street gangs, prison gangs and cartels took over drug trafficking in the 1980s and then they took over sex trafficking at the turn of the century,” Travers told People magazine. “When I read about Brittanee Drexel, who disappeared off the face of the planet, I just knew gangs were involved.”

Since it was founded in 2014, the team at Saved in America has assisted in almost 200 recoveries of lost or stolen children. They use their investigation skills, surveillance, and cooperation with the police department in order to find these displaced individuals. Other than saving lost individuals who may be in danger, the group also seeks to raise awareness in the public about the conditions going on around them.

What do you think about this group? If you or one of your loved ones has been a victim of sex trafficking, you can reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 for assistance. You can also learn how to be a volunteer for Saved in America on their website. Make sure you spread this story to your friends and family - these people deserve all the praise in the world for their work!