MORGAN PARK — Human trafficking is not just something that happens in far away countries, according the to the Chicago Police Department.
It happens every day in Chicago — often under the guise of prostitution, said Officer Lordes Nieto, a 13-year-veteran of the department who has spent the last seven years focused on the problem.
"There are a lot of misconceptions about this," Nieto told a group of about 30 people gathered Tuesday at the Morgan Park District police station at 1900 W. Monterey Ave.
Nieto said the statistics available rely mostly on estimates, as the victims of human trafficking are often afraid to come forward or in some cases don't even realize they have fallen victim to the crime.
She told the crowd about 27 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking — a modern form of slavery. In Chicago, there were 122 human trafficking cases in 2015 and 152 such cases in 2016.
"It happens, and it happens every day right under our noses," said Nieto, adding that according to estimates 25,000 women and children are victims of commercial sexual exploitation in Chicago annually.
She said criminals view the crime as particularly lucrative compared to other illegal activity because victims can be exploited again and again for profit. This compared to a robbery or a drug deal, which is seen as a single score.
Human trafficking is actually a broad term that includes those forced work with little or no pay as well as those who are abused for their bodies. Women and girls account for 55 percent of all victims, Nieto said.
The victims are often young and coerced into the role with promises of a better life in another country or an escape from an abusive situation at home. Nieto said teenage victims are sometimes promised careers in modeling or fall for boyfriend who ends up becoming their pimp.
So victims are not always looking for help, believing that their abuser will someday marry them or will turn them into authorities — including immigration or school officials — should they speak up.
Common places for human trafficking include truck stops, mom-and-pop businesses, strip clubs, online escort services and massage parlors. And Nieto lauded a recent effort aimed at stopping the practice from Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).
After a citywide crackdown busted six massage parlors for prostitution, O'Shea proposed an ordinance increasing the penalties for such crimes, targeting the business owners while seeking assistance rather than punishment for those caught in the act.
"That was a huge win for the anti-trafficking community," said Nieto, adding that victims often are afraid to come forward for fear of prosecution.
But there's still more to be done to thwart human trafficking in Chicago. Police have a vice unit and a special team assigned to rooting out such crimes, but Nieto said watchful parents and community members are vital.
"This is happening to our children, to our boys and girls, in our schools, in our churches. And no one is exempt," said Nieto, a Pilsen resident.
Bishop Larry Roberts Sr. of Trinity All Nations Ministries in Washington Heights is the chairman of the clergy subcommittee for the Morgan Park Police District. He said a 16-year-old girl from his congregation was recently found West Virginia — a victim of human trafficking.
"We always ignore things until they hit home," Roberts said. "So let's try to get on this."
