‘This is happening for real’: Advocates stress the dangerous reality of human trafficking in Philadelphia region

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 100 people gathered in Kensington Tuesday evening for a lighthearted night of tacos and dancing, but for a serious cause: human trafficking.

The goal of the event was to raise money and awareness about human trafficking, an issue at the heart of nearly 300 cases filed in Pennsylvania between 2018 and 2022, according to the state courts.

“This is happening for real,” said state Sen. Christine Tartaglione. “It’s happening in my district. It’s happening in Kensington and Allegheny.”

About 6% of the state’s filed offenses between 2018 and 2022 happened in Philadelphia County. Montgomery, Delaware, Chester and Berks counties accounted for even higher shares.

And in a community like Kensington, trafficking is intertwined with the opioid epidemic.

“You have folks that are suffering with addiction, so now you’re easily manipulated. Before you know it, you’re being trafficked and you’re wondering, ‘How did I get here?’” said Edwin Desamour, a board member of the anti-trafficking group Exodus Road , which hosted the event.

“It can happen right in your neighborhood, on your block, in your city. A lot of times, people think this is something that just happens around the world, but you fail to realize it happens here.”

Desamour said people, especially parents, need to be aware of the dangers that children may face online.

“You lock your door, you set the alarm, and you’re thinking everything is safe in the house. But little do you know the predator is in your house. How? Through the TV, through the internet, through the games,” he said.

For more information on human trafficking indicators and resources, visit the website of the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services .