Houston Police Department Captain Salam Zia said as a result of the initiative, 15 traffickers were arrested with 21 trafficking-related charges filed and 29 victims rescued, 11 of them being juveniles.
The overview
The monthlong human trafficking initiative started in January as part of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Zia said.
A HPD spokesperson told Community Impact the initiative was a collaboration between multiple agencies from Houston Police Department, Montgomery County, Fort Bend County and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Zia said collaborating with local, state and federal agencies are crucial to enhance information sharing, resource allocation and coordinated responses to bring more effective identification of victims and prosecution of perpetrators.
“We’re fortunate to have leaders who prioritize public safety and strongly support our anti-human-trafficking efforts,” Zia said.
Zooming in
During a Feb. 11 Public Safety Committee meeting, Assistant Chief Megan Howard said human trafficking cases saw a 30% rise in 2024, due to more investigations and reporting, as well as the department’s shift in focus from prostitution to human trafficking.
“Our proximity to the border, our international community, our vitality of our community, makes us a real target for human traffic perpetrators,” Mayor John Whitmire said. “I want everyone to know every month of the year, our law enforcement, our community, is going to fight human trafficking.”
An HPD spokesperson said the rise in cases is due to Whitmire’s commitment to public safety and ensuring the city maintains its safety.
“If you think you can travel from Montgomery County and meet a young person to commit an awful act in Harris County or Fort Bend County for that matter, you best not do it,” Police Chief Noe Diaz said.
