Hundreds of child trafficking cases in Connecticut in past 10 years, expert says

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Three juvenile girls were reunited with their families, and seven men were arrested after a months-long human trafficking investigation in Hartford, according to police.

Seven men, aged 19 to 51, were arrested as a part of this investigation, which started in May, according to police.

The men are charged with a wide variety of crimes, including kidnapping, trafficking in persons, sexual assault, commercial sexual abuse of a minor, strangulation and other crimes.

Love146, an organization that helps victims of human trafficking in Connecticut, estimates that in the past 10 years there have been hundreds of cases of children being trafficked in the state.

“A lot of times we have this misconception that traffickers are strangers people the youth don’t know, but it’s not uncommon for it to be somebody already that is part of that youth’s community network or even family,” Marlyn from Love146 said. “We see a lot of familial trafficking.”

The investigation is still ongoing, police said.

More information can be found on Love146’s website.