Dec 11, 2007 8:11 pm US/Eastern
Hotline Launched To Report Human Trafficking
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
It's a crime as dangerous and nearly as lucrative as drug smuggling and money laundering but the "goods" being sold as human beings.
It's modern day slavery in America.
CBS4 News was first to bring you the story of men, women and children living in slavery right here in South Florida, and our chief investigative reporter Michele Gillen has the story of what our country is doing at the highest levels of government to literally rescue victims.
In a very unusual conference, 50 of America's top cops--secret agents of sorts, who are in the trenches of America's global fight against human trafficking--met in Miami to design what is a strategy to eradicate to modern day slavery.
At the front of the effort is a man who's vision may well save lives.He is US Ambassador Mark Lagon, and America's global effort to wipe out human trafficking is in his hands.
"We're at that stage where we can mobilize people, on the left, on the right, in the United States and other countries, to make a difference," says Senator Mark Lagon.
In a post created by President Bush to focus efforts on the crime of human trafficking, Lagon is mapping out strategies to expose the horror that we first showed you taking root on US soil in our series the "Invisible Chains."
Since then, national and local efforts have catapulted the crime into the public light but new obstacles continue to emerge.
"The major obstacles are indifference and corruption on behalf of governments around the world," he said.
Speaking before attachés and agents of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stationed in 40 countries and the U.S., James Ink had a message of urgency. He is the with the ICE's Office of International Affairs.
"Through money laundering is where you hurt them," he said. "We go after these organizations to disrupt them and dismantle them, and ultimately to prosecute the people that are committing very real crimes."
U.S. efforts are underway to advise victims, or those who know victims, that help will be just a phone call away through the use of a toll-free hotline.
If you have information on human trafficking you are urged to call the ICE TIPLINE at 866-347-2423.
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