BURLINGTON, N.C. — Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson says 19 people were arrested on human trafficking-related charges in a recent bust.
The bust was part of the department's most recent initiative known as Operation Happy New Year.
Johnson held a joint press conference with law enforcement leaders in the county to announce the results of a recent Human Trafficking/Prostitution operation, Tuesday afternoon.
“We will not tolerate these crimes,” Johnson said, "This is happening right here in our backyard and that is a shame."
The operation wrapped up in the last week of January and spanned across Alamance County. Investigators worked with Mebane Police, Graham Police, Randolph County Sheriff's Department and the State Bureau of Investigation during the operation.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office addressed the recent human trafficking case involving a five-year sex slave and hopes to collaborate in operations like these in the future in order to better combat human trafficking.
"We know that it’s happening in our county, we are a very rural county and Alamance is a leader in human trafficking investigations and the prosecution of those investigations, and we know that there’s a lot of stuff we can learn from Alamance county by partnering with them," said Col. Aundrea Azelton, Chief Deputy with the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.
Mebane Police said such crimes affect “quality of life", and the long-term goal is to affect crime “as a whole.”
Alamance County law enforcement agencies have been aggressive with combating Human Trafficking in recent times.
After busting dozens suspected to be involved in human trafficking in September, Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said he was 'fed up' with cases of human trafficking through prostitution in his county. Johnson said that bust was just 'a drop in the bucket.'
"A total of 28 individuals were arrested here in Alamance County in a two-day process," Johnson said during the September 2019 news conference. Investigators said some of those arrested were accused of selling sex or paying for it.
North Carolina consistently ranks in the top ten states for human trafficking - 6th to be specific - according to numbers from the World Population Review, which shows the issue is a statewide problem.
In 2019, there were 713 charges of human trafficking and other similar offenses across the state, according to the North Carolina Judicial Branch website.
"I want people to know that human trafficking happens everywhere. Unfortunately, it happens here in our community and everyone is vulnerable," said Bria Miller of Crossroads.
Crossroads, based in Burlington is a sexual assault response resource center. As a part of her job, Miller is an advocate for victims of human trafficking.
Miller said she helps up to 200 human trafficking victims in Alamance County per year.
"Each quarter we’re serving anywhere between 35 and 50 victims of human trafficking," said Miller.
Traffickers and their victims are all over the state.
"It has a lot to do with the fact that we have military bases here, we also have huge interstates like 40, and 85 so we have lots of traffic that goes through here," Miller explained.
How to help:
- The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a resource used by service providers and law enforcement to receive tips about human trafficking in our country. Anyone can call the NHTH to report a tip or request services at 1-888-373-7888. Calls are 24/7 and always confidential.
- Call Crossroads in Alamance County at 336-228-0813, or the 24-hour crisis line at 336-228-0360.
"If you see a victim of human trafficking it is not safe for you to go and save that person yourself," Miller explained. "Unsafe for yourself, and the victim so call us, call 911, or the National Human Trafficking Hotline."
Click here for a human trafficking fact sheet for North Carolina.
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