Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jun 2013
Source: Imperial Valley Press (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Imperial Valley Press
Contact:  http://www.ivpressonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1877
Author: Chelcey Adami

TRAFFICKING SUMMIT FOCUSES ON VALLEY'S VICTIMS

HEBER - Details of the highly dangerous, lucrative and pervasive 
industries of drug and human trafficking took center stage at the 
second annual Drug and Human Trafficking Summit on Friday.

The event, titled "No Place to Hide," was hosted by the SURE Helpline 
Crisis Center with support from the Imperial County Behavioral Health 
and Alcohol Services as well as Cal-Ema Sexual Assault Educational Services.

"The summit is to bring awareness and also educate different agencies 
in law enforcement," said SURE Helpline violence protection educator 
Monique Alford. "It's a great time to talk about these issues here in 
Imperial County."

She explained that weakened economic conditions in the community 
often cause people to be more vulnerable to being lured into the drug 
or human trafficking trade as they become desperate for quick money.

However, the consequences can be permanent and deadly. SURE Helpline 
Executive Director Margaret Sauza shared with the audience how her 
son was gunned down at age 26 by drug dealers and that after his 
death, she realized that he sold drugs.

Imperial County Senior Deputy District Attorney Sidney Hester Sr. 
said crimes like the ones discussed Friday tear apart the fabric of 
the Imperial County community, families and relationships, and that 
criminals purposefully prey on the poor, young, uneducated and unemployed.

Event speakers such as Homeland Security Investigations Supervisory 
Special Agent Stewart Harvey detailed how teens are being targeted 
particularly for drug trafficking and underscored the importance of 
parents' vigilance in noticing telltale behavior such as a sudden 
large influx of cash.

He explained how many drug trafficking organizations are strapping 
drugs to teen's bodies when they cross the border or asking them to 
drive vehicles carrying drugs further into the country, even being 
recruited in class.

Drug and human trafficking organizations often target the more 
vulnerable people in society such as children, people illegally in 
the country or people with limited English proficiency.

How drugs or people are moved by traffickers also keeps changing with 
the use of ultralight aircrafts, kettle balls, tunnels and 
non-factory compartments in vehicles among the trends noticed in the Valley.

Summit speakers included representatives from U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security 
Investigations, the district attorney's office and the Consulate of 
Mexico in Calexico.

The audience included people such as local judges and addiction 
counselors who were encouraged to spread the message that the public 
can be the eyes and ears for law enforcement on these crimes by 
reporting suspicious activity, anonymously if they want.

Call the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866-347-2423 to 
report suspected drug or human trafficking.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom