RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Members of law enforcement agencies across North Carolina were out in numbers on Interstate 40 Wednesday for a special, one-day operation targeting human trafficking and other crimes.
“To me as a father, it’s probably one of the most important things we’ve done this year,” said Sgt. Jeff Martin with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
It was part of the “Operation Guardian Campaign”, happening up and down I-40 throughout the day Wednesday.
“Every enforcement action is a life saved, but one of the things that we will be doing is trying to look for any indicators, behavioral indicators that we see that could potentially allow us to investigate exploited children,” Martin explained.
Connecting North Carolina to California, I-40 is a vital highway for travelers, but can also be a key route in these types of crimes.
“We say anywhere, any major highway, any area that has people, basically, could be a potential for there to be a victim of human trafficking,” said Brandy Belton from Truckers Against Trafficking.
With many people set to travel in the coming days for Labor Day weekend, Belton and members of law enforcement encourage everyone to stay vigilant for potential signs of trafficking when stopping at rest stops or other areas.
Some warning signs include someone who looks distressed, malnourished, or has visible tattoos or other markings like dog tags.
“Our organization did start out with identifying that truckers are obviously the eyes and ears of the roadway, but they also can work hand-in-hand with law enforcement,” Belton said.
While combatting human trafficking is the main goal of the campaign, law enforcement was also hoping to keep the major highway safe ahead of the busy weekend.
“We want to stop cars, people who are putting others at risk, and during the course of those traffic stops, we know they lead to other things,” said Sgt. Chris Knox with State Highway Patrol. “We know that these traffic stops, when you dig a little deeper as an officer, you might find that there’s something going on here.”
If you notice any potential signs of human trafficking while traveling this weekend, call 911.
Harrison Grubb
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