- The I-5 route makes up the majority of what is referred to as the “West Coast track” for trafficking, and it is estimated that each victim traveling along the track can make their trafficker around $200,000 a year, contributing to the $150 billion global human trafficking industry
- In 2017, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimated that 1 in 7 endangered runaways reported to them were likely sex trafficking victims.
- Globally, the International Labor Organization estimates that there are 4.8 million people trapped in forced sexual exploitation globally.
- In 2017, 8,759 cases of human trafficking were reported, representing over 10,000 individual victims, almost 5,000 potential traffickers, and more than 1,500 businesses involved in human trafficking. This was a 13 percent increase in cases compared to 2016
- Up to 300,000 Americans under 18 are lured into the commercial sex trade every year. From 14,500 - 17,500 of those victims are trafficked into the United States each year.
- A $32 billion-a-year industry in the U.S. alone, human trafficking is on the rise and is in all 50 states (U.S. Government)
- Human trafficking has surpassed the illegal sale of arms
- Average victims age is 11 to 14
- Approximately 80% are women and children bought, sold and imprisoned in the underground sex service industry
- Average life span of a victim is reported to be 7 years (found dead from attack, abuse, HIV and other STD's, malnutrition, overdose or suicide)
