By Craig Anderson

WILMINGTON — Delaware has seen 50 arrests in human trafficking cases in the past five years, but as Attorney General Kathy Jennings said, far more could have been made.

“And in each of them, the work that the police did required extensive, complex investigation, just to get the state to the stage of arrest,” she said.

“We have unfortunately seen plenty of these cases and those 50 are the tip of what we know is a much larger iceberg.”

Hence the newly formed Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit designed to support victims and prosecute those profiting from sex and labor trafficking.

With an array of advocates having valuable skill sets standing behind her at a formal announcement within the Carvel State Office Building on Monday afternoon, Ms. Jennings said arrests were only part of the push against trafficking.

The attorney general envisions a holistic approach to the problem, which includes providing services for the victims, teaming with public and nonprofit parters, raising awareness within the public, and joining with out-of-state agencies when crimes cross into Delaware.

“Certainly the prosecution of these violent predators is important but so is lowering the incidences of human trafficking in our state,” Ms. Jennings said.

“That also involves education, provision of services to those who need it the most and finally, civil enforcement. We have shut down illicit massage parlors all over the state, have taken away their property, taken away a person’s means of making a living through this horrible practice.

“And all that matters.”

The DOJ’s Family Division Director Abigail Rodgers will head the unit, which will also consist of two full-time deputy attorneys general. Of human trafficking, she said “It’s a very complicated problem involving many agencies and many issues.

“Part of the problem out of the gate is that people don’t understand what it is and what it looks like here in Delaware.

“I think instinctually people now get that it probably involves our most vulnerable population, our runaway youth or immigrant population, but the reality is ... there is no one profile to a trafficker.

“They may be a mom, a dad, a boyfriend and employer, and there’s no one profile to a victim. It may be the daughter, the girlfriend, the employee.

“The reality is that trafficking knows no bounds, social or economic.”

Also attending the announcement were State Sen. Nicole Poore, a New Castle Democrat, and Rep. Kim Williams, a Marshallton Democrat, who Ms. Jennings saluted for their support of human trafficking issues in the General Assembly.

In a news release touting the announcement, Sen. Poore said, in part, “Today’s announcement is yet another major step forward in our fight against physical and sexual exploitation, and I look forward to working with the attorney general and the new Human Trafficking Unit as they seek to bring the monsters who perpetuate these horrible crimes to justice.”

According to Rep. Williams, “This new Human Trafficking Unit will further provide an opportunity to give a voice to the voiceless. These efforts will be able to make a positive impact by giving resources and awareness to survivors but also holding traffickers responsible ...”

Also in the release, Brian Moore, chairman of the Human Trafficking Interagency Coordinating Council, said that “One of the most devastating acts of violation is the act of destroying someone’s sense of humanity and hope.

“Those who fall prey to the horrific control of traffickers are robbed of their belief that they are anything more than property. Part of our role as a council is to be the spokesperson, champion and advocate for those whose humanity has been stolen.

“And so today we thank Attorney General Jennings for giving a voice to the voiceless and for giving the immeasurable gift of hope for those who desperately want nothing more than to believe that someone cares. Her message today – all of our message today – is that we are here and that Delaware cares.”

Anyone who suspects human trafficking may be occurring should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, or call 911 if someone may be in imminent danger.