Average human trafficking victims in SWFL, 15-year-old girls

A shadow is cast on the Sunshine State by the dark criminal world of human trafficking.

Naples Police say, in terms of human trafficking, Florida ranks third in the nation.

Many refer to the illegal $150 billion-a-year industry as a form of modern-day slavery, with millions of victims.

Linda Oberhaus, CEO of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples, told WINK News that Fort Myers and Naples rank among the top three cities in Florida for human trafficking hotline calls.

Shockingly, the average age of victims in those cities is 15 years old.

“There’s a myth that many victims of human trafficking are kidnapped. And that truly is a myth,” said Oberhaus. “Predominantly, they’re befriended. They are chosen. They’re not taken.”

“They’ll hone in on whatever that victim doesn’t have. And then make every effort to meet that victim’s needs,” added Oberhaus.

The traffickers inject themselves into the lives of their victims.

“They’re known as Romeos,” said Oberhaus. “They just look like average people, they don’t look like monsters.”

Some of these so-called Romeos are teenagers. On average, they’re sex-trafficking targets are 15-year-old girls.

“As hard as it is at 15 to have open communication with your parents, it’s so very important,” said Oberhaus.

It’s important to be wary of the warning signs. Some of which are force, fraud, coercion, or, “Taking a photograph or a video of a girl and threatening to make that picture public,” said Oberhaus.

Another warning sign is introducing drugs to a victim.

“When victims become addicted to these drugs, they become much more vulnerable to the control of that trafficker,” said Oberhaus.

Oftentimes, victims don’t know they are a human trafficking target until it’s too late.

“The victims literally think these traffickers are their boyfriends,” said Oberhaus. “They’re not their boyfriends at all. They’re well-known traffickers to our local law enforcement.”

Oberhaus explained The Shelter has served more than 70 human trafficking victims since the organization began keeping track in 2005.

If you, or someone you know, needs help call the Shelter’s hotline at 239-775-1101.

You can also visit the website here.

Or contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.