Homeland Security Investigations Provides Outreach on Human Trafficking to DVSAC and Rotary Clubs of St. Croix

  • Staff Consortium
  • February 04, 2023
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Homeland Security Investigations said on Friday that special agents conducted a STOP Trafficking outreach presentation to the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council (DVSAC) and Rotary Clubs of St. Croix members on January 31.

STOP stands for Strategic Trafficking Outreach Program, a new initiative driven by HSI to mitigate trafficking by engaging key industries and raising public awareness to recognize and report trafficking.

According to the release, HSI Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Eugene Thomas spoke about HSI’s goal and mission which is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle cross border human trafficking organizations and minimize the risk they pose to national security and public safety, while employing a victim centered approach, whereby equal value is placed on the interdiction and stabilization of victims and on the deterrence, investigation, and prosecution of traffickers.

Each year, HSI operations result in 1,000 trafficking cases, 1200 criminal arrests, 900 indictments, and 500 convictions related to human trafficking. ASAC Thomas further stated at the outreach that “coordinating and collaborating with local, federal, and non-governmental organizations will help to spread the word on recognizing the signs and reporting human trafficking violations in our community.”

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