What is Human Trafficking?

Trafficking in persons is the illegal trade in human beings, through deception or abduction.  It includes the threat of force, fraud, or coercion of its victims for the purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labor.  This horrific human rights violation is modern day slavery and is a crime under U.S. Federal Law and Florida State Statutes.    

Trafficking victims are often lured through false promises of good working conditions and high pay as domestic workers, factory and farm workers, or waitresses. However, once they arrive in this country, many suffer extreme physical and mental abuse which can include rape, sexual exploitation, torture, beatings, starvation, death threats, and threats to family members. 

Human trafficking has quickly become a billion dollar industry which enslaves an estimated two million people each year. Eighty-percent of the victims are female and 50% are children. Women and even young girls are forced to work as prostitutes, servants and abused laborers.  Men are often trafficked into labor fields where they are forced to work for little to no pay. Human trafficking has reached epidemic proportions and no one it seems is exempt from its grasp. While our immigrant population seems most highly affected by Human Trafficking, homeless citizens, runaways and children are also vulnerable targets.

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More information about CCCAHT

The Collier County Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCCAHT) was established in December 2004 following the discovery of several human trafficking cases.  Collier County is home to a large population of migrant workers and while the number of cases involving human trafficking is small, they are no less horrific in nature.  The stance of the CCCAHT is to be proactive in its assistance to local victim service providers and law enforcement in the fight against all human trafficking in Collier County and throughout Southwest Florida.

CCCAHT is a volunteer organization comprised of community service providers, law enforcement officers and private citizens who volunteer their services and time to educate the community and to provide services to victims.  We rely on the support of the community to continue our work.  If you are interested in learning more about Human Trafficking or are interested in speaking with a member of our organization, please e-mail us info@cccaht.org.