MACON, Ga. — The International Labor Organization estimates there are almost 5 million people worldwide trapped in forced sexual exploitation.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said they arrested 13 people in the North Macon, Riverside area. They believe six of the 13 arrested had roles in sex trafficking operations and the others are accused of being potential customers.
GBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Hilton helped take down the operation. They collaborate with organizations across the state like the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
"When we have success in these operations, we make a dent in the human trafficking phenomenon," Hilton said.
Hilton said they use undercover agents to pose as commercial sex workers to engage with traffickers digitally or in person.
"This case was a proactive case, meaning we all came together, in this case, in Bibb County in Macon and conducted undercover operation at a hotel," he said.
He said they look into areas of Georgia with major highways and websites that direct people to participate or purchase sex.
"We see what kind of traffic those websites have,” Hilton said. “We also talk to local investigators and people on the ground in the local community, i.e. the Bibb County Sheriff's office where say -- not a higher crime area -- a place where there is a larger amount of hotels, or near the interstate or where they think an operation would be more conducive to have success."
These busts are also about getting the human and sex trafficking victims help. The Freedom Collective of Middle Georgia Interim Director Jerri Morris said she was at the site of the arrests to offer help.
"These women may be up all night,” she said. “They may be servicing 10, 20, 30 men a day and it's very horrendous. There's a lot of repercussions for that. There's trauma, there's PTSD. It's a nightmare and we really want people to be a part of helping and to be a part of solving this problem."
Morris said The Freedom Collective of Middle Georgia serves female victims of human and sex trafficking victims across Macon, Warner Robins and Byron. You can reach their hotline at 943-233-3733.
Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia lends a helping hand to victims, too. Prescott Judd said every victim has a different experience but there are ways to identify signs.
"If somebody is obviously presenting with physical injury, if someone is constantly deferring to someone else for authority or decision making,” Judd said. “If someone kind of randomly comes into a lot of money or possessions that doesn't really seem to make sense, and then of course, just withdrawing from social situations or visible fear, isolation are big warning signs."
Judd said arrests like the ones in this latest case motivate the organization to help victims even more. The Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia 24/7 hotline is 478-745-9292. They provide medical exams, counseling and shelter for free.
Hilton said the GBI is still investigating sex trafficking in Central Georgia. If you have information that could help, call the GBI Heat Unit at 404-270-8433.
To report suspected human trafficking, call the statewide hotline at 1-866-363-4842. The 24/7 hotline answers questions and connects people to services and resources throughout the state.