Seven people have been indicted for operating two separate sex trafficking rings in North and South Jersey, according to state authorities. In Essex County, three suspects were indicted for allegedly forcing juvenile victims to participate in sex acts through threats and physical violence. The victims, two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old, were subjected to beating, hair pulling, biting, punching, and stomping. In Cumberland County, four individuals were indicted on human and drug trafficking charges for luring women under false pretenses to a brothel in Bridgeton where they were forced to engage in sex for money.
State Attorney General Matthew Platkin commended the efforts of the Division of Criminal Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit in identifying and dismantling trafficking enterprises across the state. In light of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, authorities are working to educate the public on identifying and preventing trafficking. The New Jersey Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 2,107 cases of trafficking since 2007, with roughly 170 cases identified last year. The State Commission of Investigation recently published a report calling for tighter regulations on licensed massage parlors where illegal prostitution is rampant. Authorities urge anyone who believes they have identified a trafficking victim to call the hotline for assistance.
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