Human trafficking – a growing problem in Oklahoma

Susan Wagoner

Friday’s Lion’s Club meeting featured a special guest presentation on human trafficking in Oklahoma and the world.

Mark Elam, coalition director of O.A.T.H. (Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans), spoke to guests about the rising problem.

“About two years ago, I learned that America has a real issue with human trafficking,” Elam said. It sparked him to action.

O.A.T.H. is about a year old and is spearheading a statewide initiative that includes the U.S. Attorney General’s office, the FBI and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

“No one agency can handle this on their own,” Elam said. “It has to be a collaborative effort with law enforcement.”

The statistics are staggering. There are 27 million known slaves in the world. Of that, 80 percent are women; half are children.

“There are 170 countries now that buy and sell humans,” Elam said. “One is America.”

Why such a demand? Sadly, it’s the resale value.

“You can only sell a kilo of cocaine once,” Elam said. “Humans you can sell again and again and again.”

It is an estimated $34 billion/year industry.

According to Elam, cities in Oklahoma are on human trafficking routes throughout the Midwest.

“This year, the USA became the number one destination for trafficking humans,” Elam said. “300,000 children are sexually exploited each year. An estimated 500,000 are not reported. Why? Who wouldn’t call the cops when their kids go

missing?”

The answer is undocumented or illegal residents. Fear of deportation keeps many from reporting to law enforcement.

“In 2003, the Department of Justice reported that the largest number of trafficking survivors were found in California, New York, Texas and Oklahoma,” Elam said. A survivor is defined as “someone who has survived extreme cases of sex trafficking, been found, and is now receiving assistance.”

Trafficking isn’t just about women and children however, as evidenced in the recent trials of the John Pickle Oil Company formerly of Tulsa.

The Tulsa factory closed in September 2002, after allegations that they recruited workers from India as skilled laborers, then subjected them to “widespread abuse, intimidation and exploitation.

The U.S. EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) filed suit against the company and a federal judge ordered Pickle to pay $1.3 million to 52 male victims.

However, it is the sexual exploitation of children that tugs hardest on heart strings.

“An estimated five million photos and videos of children circulate the internet each day,” Elam said. “The United States is the number one producer and purchaser of child pornography.”

The vulnerable are targeted through many outlets, including online.

“They are grooming minors through online social networks,” Elam said. “The average age of a prostitute is now 14. The average entry age is 12.”

Of those asked, 78 percent said they didn’t choose that lifestyle.

For more information on human trafficking or to help, go to www.OATHcoalition.org.

Text Only