Recent data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline has placed North Carolina at the forefront of a human trafficking crisis. In 2024, the state reported 301 cases involving 580 victims, with an alarming number of those targeted being children. The data positions North Carolina as ninth in the nation for human trafficking incidents, signaling an urgent need for action.
Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, has become a critical node in this illicit network, primarily due to its strategic location within the interstate system. Toby Braun, founder of American Special Investigative Group, points to Charlotte's highways as conduits for traffickers transporting victims from South Florida through Atlanta and then to other major cities like New York and Houston, with Charlotte serving as a "pit stop."
Hannah Arrowood, executive director of Present Age Ministries and partner of the Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force, characterizes the situation as a "perfect storm" of contributing factors. The state's extensive highway system, the demand for cheap labor in its agricultural sector, and increased gang activity are cited as significant drivers of the crisis.
Experts note that gang networks, particularly the Bloods, exert considerable control over the trafficking operations in Charlotte. These organized crime groups are adept at moving people, remaining undetected, and exploiting resources to maintain their activities.
The Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force reported a 76% increase in child trafficking cases in the Charlotte area from 2020 to 2024. Disturbingly, 48% of the cases in 2024 involved minors aged 15 or younger. Many victims are from outside the state, but Arrowood emphasizes that local school-aged children are also being targeted.
The exploitation encompasses sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and other forms of abuse that may not be fully documented. Of the reported cases in 2024, 145 were identified as sex trafficking, 73 as labor trafficking, and 38 involved both. The multifaceted nature of the crisis underscores the complexity of the response required.
Efforts to combat human trafficking in North Carolina involve collaborations between law enforcement, non-profit organizations, and community leaders. These partnerships aim to increase awareness, provide support to victims, and dismantle the networks responsible for this exploitation.
As the state grapples with the implications of these findings, the focus turns to prevention, intervention, and survivor support. The data not only reveals the scope of the problem but also the urgency for comprehensive strategies to address and prevent further human trafficking within North Carolina and beyond.
