Human trafficking can be subtler than you would think, local advocate says

SALEM, Ohio (WKBN) – Human trafficking is not what you see in movies — that’s the message Free Three wants the public to know.

The organization — which covers Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties — held an event Thursday night at the Salem Community Theater.

The discussion focused on human trafficking and child exploitation awareness.

Currently, Ohio is ranked fifth in the nation in terms of human trafficking cases.

Amy Bordonaro, with FreeThree, says human trafficking cases aren’t always a snatch-and-go situation and the signs can be subtle.

“It is real human trafficking. Both sex, and labor, and real exploitation but that usually happens like familiar trafficking, or gang trafficking, or peer trafficking, so it just looks completely different,” she said.

Some things to watch for include a change in behavior or a lack of eye contact.

Bordonaro says their goal is to educate the community to help end sex trafficking.

For more information, visit FreeThree’s website .

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