Explain why you think human trafficking is such “big business.”

To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources this week to deepen your understanding of the scope and types of human trafficking.
Search your state or county laws regarding human trafficking. For example, search the internet using the search string “human trafficking laws state of Texas.”
Review data related to human trafficking on the FBI’s UCR website.
Choose a “type” of human trafficking (e.g., sex trafficking, child-sex trafficking, organ trafficking, child soldiers, domestic servitude, mail order brides, drug mules, labor trafficking) on which to focus for this Discussion.
Review the statistics related to the type of human trafficking you selected.
Post the following:
Provide a brief description of the type of human trafficking you selected.
Summarize statistics related to the type of trafficking you selected (e.g., magnitude, cost, population, demographics, location).
Based on what you know about the mindset of criminals, explain whether you believe offenders are aware of the magnitude of their crimes. Justify your explanation and provide an example.
Explain why you think human trafficking is such “big business.”
Explain how social media and the internet impact the issue of human trafficking.
Note: Your post should be substantial (1 paragraph or more for each bullet point above), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA style.
ANSWER
**Type of human trafficking:** Labor trafficking
**Description:** Labor trafficking is the exploitation of people for labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion. It is the most common form of human trafficking, accounting for over half of all trafficking cases. Labor trafficking victims can be found in a wide range of industries, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality.
**Statistics:**
* The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that there are 24.9 million victims of forced labor worldwide, including 16 million victims of labor exploitation in the private sector.
* The US Department of State estimates that 100,000 to 200,000 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year for labor or sex trafficking.
* The ILO estimates that the total profits generated from forced labor are between $150 billion and $99 billion per year.
* Labor trafficking victims are often from marginalized communities, such as immigrants, refugees, and indigenous peoples.
* Women and girls are disproportionately affected by labor trafficking.
**Mindset of offenders:**
Offenders who engage in labor trafficking are aware of the magnitude of their crimes. They know that they are exploiting people for labor or services and that they are violating their basic human rights. However, offenders are often motivated by greed and a desire to make money. They may also be motivated by a sense of power and control over their victims.
**Example:**
One example of a labor trafficking offender is a restaurant owner who hires undocumented immigrants to work in their kitchen for long hours and low wages. The restaurant owner may threaten to report the immigrants to immigration authorities if they try to leave their job. This is a clear example of force and coercion, and the restaurant owner is aware that they are exploiting their workers.
**Why human trafficking is such “big business”:**
Human trafficking is big business because it is a low-risk, high-profit crime. Offenders can make a lot of money by exploiting people for labor or services. This is especially true in industries where there is a high demand for labor and where workers are vulnerable to exploitation.
**How social media and the internet impact the issue of human traffickers:**
Social media and the internet make it easier for traffickers to recruit and exploit victims. Traffickers can use social media platforms to target potential victims and to create fake job postings. Victims may be lured by the promise of a good job or a better life. The internet also makes it easier for traffickers to transport victims and to sell them to other traffickers or to buyers.
**Conclusion:**
Labor trafficking is a serious crime that exploits people and violates their basic human rights. Offenders who engage in labor trafficking are aware of the magnitude of their crimes, but they are motivated by greed and a desire to make money. Human trafficking is big business because it is a low-risk, high-profit crime. Social media and the internet make it easier for traffickers to recruit and exploit victims.
**References:**
* International Labour Organization (ILO). (2016). Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage. Geneva: ILO.
* US Department of State. (2023). Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, DC: US Department of State.
* United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2020). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Vienna: UNODC.