Houston Republic

After two 16-year-old sex trafficking victims were recently rescued by law enforcement in the Beaumont area, the Beaumont Enterprise raised the importance of community awareness and tips in mitigating the high level of trafficking that passes through the community.

According to the recent editorial, the arrest of the two men – one of whom was a felon found in possession of a firearm – may have come as a surprise to some local residents, but it should not.

In the recent incident, police were acting on a tip about a missing juvenile seen at a truck stop, who was reported to be at a nearby hotel. Officers found the girls and the men after a short search of the premises.

“It is something that has ballooned and exploded in this area,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Bob Wortham. “I think it is because we are off Interstate 10 between Houston and New Orleans. If you look at the map on where human trafficking is really conducted, we’re in a red section.” 

Texas was also second only to California for calls made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

According to the editorial, such moments in police work where tips actually come in and victims are actually rescued are rare.

“We ask people to call if you see someone at a motel with a young girl and she looks like she is depressed and in bad shape,” Wortham said. “At least give the police a chance to make a report and go check it out. We had a girl that was in a car going down the street. She was in the back seat and mouthed ‘Help me’ to someone that was behind her.”

While hotel and truck stop employees can play a key role in identifying potential trafficking situations, so can everyday people who are simply keeping their eyes open, the editorial said.

Signs to look for include a youth who is constantly monitored in public and either doesn’t respond when spoken to or looks to another person when addressed. A victim may also be dressed in a manner that is unsuited to the weather conditions and have few or no personal belongings.