Law Enforcement Agencies Raising Awareness Of Human Trafficking Ahead Of Indianapolis 500

Federal, state and local law enforcement are increasing public awareness and enforcement efforts surrounding human trafficking as Indiana prepares for the Indianapolis 500.  Officials say Indiana is a “hub” for human sex trafficking because of the large sporting events it often hosts.

Human trafficking and prostitution spike during large events.  During the 2015 Final Four, for example, online ads for escort services on one website peaked at more than 100 per day. Agencies are ramping up enforcement efforts ahead of this year’s Indianapolis 500, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the state. 

U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said it’s also incumbent on businesses, particularly hotels, to watch for signs of human trafficking and report it.

“How long are they renting the hotel space? Does the woman look age-appropriate for the individual that she’s with? How many people are there – two, three, four,” Minkler said.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says a robust public awareness campaign – similar to those used during last year’s Final Four and the 2012 Super Bowl – is just as important as the enforcement efforts.

“I’m not looking to have large-scale arrests, I mean that would almost be a failure," Zoeller said. " We’re trying to tell people ‘Don’t come here.’”

Zoeller says the average age of someone first drawn into the sex industry is 12- to 14-years old, and 83 percent of trafficked victims in the U.S. are American citizens.