Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
      • Atlanta
        • Atlanta Leadership
        • Atlanta Contacts
      • Caribbean
        • Caribbean Leadership
        • Caribbean Contacts
      • Chicago
        • Chicago Leadership
        • Chicago Contacts
      • Dallas
        • Dallas Leadership
        • Dallas Contacts
      • Detroit
        • Detroit Leadership
        • Detroit Contacts
      • El Paso
        • El Paso Leadership
        • El Paso Contacts
      • Headquarters
      • Houston
        • Houston Leadership
        • Houston Contacts
      • Los Angeles
        • Los Angeles Leadership
        • Los Angeles Contacts
      • Louisville
        • Louisville Leadership
        • Louisville Contacts
      • Miami
        • Miami Leadership
        • Miami Contacts
      • New England
        • New England Leadership
        • New England Contacts
      • New Jersey
        • New Jersey Contacts
      • New Orleans
        • New Orleans Leadership
        • New Orleans Contacts
      • New York
        • New York Leadership
        • New York Contacts
      • Omaha
        • Omaha Leadership
        • Omaha Contacts
      • Philadelphia
        • Philadelphia Leadership
        • Philadelphia Contacts
      • Phoenix
        • Phoenix Leadership
        • Phoenix Contacts
      • Rocky Mountain
        • Rocky Mountain Contacts
      • San Diego
        • San Diego Leadership
        • San Diego Contacts
      • San Francisco
        • San Francisco Contacts
      • Seattle
        • Seattle Contacts
      • St. Louis
        • St. Louis Leadership
        • St. Louis Contacts
      • Washington, DC
        • Washington Leadership
        • Washington Contacts
    • DEA Museum
    • Foreign Offices
      • Africa
      • Andean
      • Caribbean
      • Europe
      • Far East
      • Middle East
      • North and Central America
      • Southern Cone
    • Operational Divisions
      • Aviation Division
      • Diversion Control Division
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
      • Submit a Tip
      • Extortion Scam
      • Public Affairs
      • Social Media Directory
  • What We Do
    • Law Enforcement
      • DEA Office of Training
        • Office of Training Programs
      • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
        • Leadership
        • Mission
        • Services
        • Contacts
      • Forensic Sciences
        • Computer Forensics Program
        • Environmental Management
        • Laboratories
      • Intelligence
      • Operations
        • Administrative Law Judges
        • DEA Asset Forfeiture
        • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
        • HIDTA
        • OCDETF
        • State and Local Task Forces
    • Education and Prevention
      • DEA’s Family Summit
      • Operation Engage
      • Community Outreach
      • Red Ribbon
        • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
        • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
      • Just Think Twice
      • Campus Drug Prevention
      • Get Smart About Drugs
      • Operation Prevention
    • Drug Information
      • Drug Policy
      • Drug Scheduling
      • The Controlled Substances Act
    • News
      • Alerts
      • Press Releases
      • Most Wanted Fugitives
        • All Fugitives
      • Stories
      • Events
      • Speeches
      • Testimony
    • Campaigns
      • One Pill Can Kill
        • Partner Toolbox
        • Social Media Campaign
      • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
      • Special Agent FAQs
      • Special Agent Job Announcements
    • Diversion Investigator
      • Diversion Investigator Job Announcement
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
      • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
      • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
      • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • How to Apply
      • Employment Requirements
      • Equal Opportunity Employer
      • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
      • Priority Consideration
      • Benefits
      • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Data and Statistics
      • Domestic Arrests
      • Staffing and Budget
    • FOIA
      • About FOIA
      • Contact DEA FOIA
      • Make a Request
      • What Happens After Making a Request
      • Requester Categories
      • Fees Charged
      • Fee Waiver
      • FOIA FAQ
      • FOIA Logs and Reports
      • FOIA Library
      • Additional FOIA Links
      • FOIA Exemptions
      • What Are Exclusions?
      • Privacy Act
      • Privacy Act Exemptions
      • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
      • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Search
  • Full Menu

Main Menu

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Submit A Tip
  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • English
  • ES

PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT

DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine - DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine

Violent drug organizations use human trafficking to expand profits

By Jarod Forget Special Agent in Charge, Washington D.C. Division
January 28, 2021

Violent drug organizations use human trafficking to expand profits

By Jarod Forget Special Agent in Charge, Washington D.C. Division

“See something, say something” is a popular catchphrase used by law enforcement in our area, usually in the context of terrorism or other suspicious activity. Additionally, we all know to step forward and notify the appropriate authorities when we become aware of issues such as child endangerment, domestic violence, or even animal cruelty.

But what about human sex trafficking?

Is that something to worry about? I mean, is it REALLY even a problem in our area??

The answer is: yes.

Human trafficking, something we often see inextricably linked with drug trafficking, is so much more prevalent in this area than most people think. In 2018, Virginia was ranked 6th in the nation for active human trafficking cases, according to the federal human trafficking report produced by the Human Trafficking Institute. Maryland ranked 15th. In 2019, those numbers went down, and there were still almost 500 human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline from across the DMV. The statistic was reported by the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

That’s an incredible number of victims in our area and an issue we are working diligently with all of our federal, state, and local partners to combat.

How can we protect our families from this? Do you know the signs? Do you know what to do?

Learn more about the problem, the signs, and the ways you can keep your family and community safe.

Let’s talk about it:

Sex & Drugs

We see trafficking of illegal drugs and human trafficking often happen together. Transnational drug traffickers and criminal organizations often look to increase profits and market control through diversification. This means using trafficking routes for drugs, labor, sex, and violence. Transporting people (usually women and children) for sex is just another egregious source of profits for these violent criminals.

For traffickers, it doesn’t matter which product is being sold -- both drugs and sex are lucrative industries – as long as money is made. Drug cartels often use trafficked women and children to smuggle drugs across the border, doubling up on the money they can make from them.

Violent criminals like this see no difference between abusing a woman’s body by forcing her to swallow bags of drugs or by forcing her to have sex with hundreds of men. 

Human Trafficking & The Opioid Crisis

The link we see between human trafficking and opioids in this area, sadly goes both ways.

Human traffickers often use drugs as “bait” to recruit people who have a substance use disorder. Or, conversely, traffickers use drugs as a means of control over their victims – to force compliance, harder work, longer hours, or to keep them “drugged out” so they do not attempt escape.

Either way, we see these horrific criminals forcing women and even children into addiction by providing them strong and potent drugs as a means of exerting control.

About 25 percent of human trafficking survivors have an opioid problem. So it’s important for us as we’re battling the opioid crisis to keep an eye out for the human trafficking side of this.

A Local Problem

So – what does this have to do with you?

We work hard, every day, in our local communities to find, investigate, and take down violent traffickers. The good part is, you can keep your family safe, and help, as well.

Take this month to learn more about the signs and preventions for human trafficking. We have partners across the area offering webinars, resources, and information to help you keep your family safe (follow us on Twitter @DEAWashingtonDC for more).

Why? Because both domestic and transnational gangs in the United States are increasingly turning to selling women and children for sex.

It’s a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise that affects tens of millions of people across the country and across the world. But we are seeing it across our area and even in our own neighborhoods. We have violent gangs and criminal organizations specific to our area who are known, horrific traffickers. Traffickers who target our vulnerable populations, our neighbors, and even our family members.

We have been working diligently with our law enforcement and community partners across the area to find, investigate, and prosecute these violent criminals who are trading human lives for profits. In the last year, alone Maryland had second-most defendants charged in federal human trafficking cases and Virginia having the twelfth-most number of defendants convicted. But with innocent human lives on the line, we can’t slow down, now.

This is why, during National Human Trafficking Awareness month, and every month, we aim to educate the public about the risks and signs of drug and human trafficking to both prevent and deter such an egregious and violent crime.

Protecting the DMV

DEA Washington works around the clock, along with our Federal, State, and Local partners, in and around your neighborhood, to weed out violent criminals like this -- criminals who prey on women, children, and vulnerable populations around the area.

When it comes to combating addiction and sex trafficking it doesn’t take a village, it takes a united force, We look out for the indicators of human trafficking in every case we work. But you can do the same.

Next time you come across or are in contact with an addict or meet someone who exhibits the possible signs of human trafficking, consider just a simple, ‘How are you? Are you safe?’

Connect with local community service providers and resources that can be readily available to learn more.

And make sure you have an option and offer that option if you see someone in need, every time.

Together we can work to vastly reduce the instances and violence associated with trafficking across our area.

This is a priority of DEA Washington, and our partners across the area.

We’re here, working to protect you.

 
Resources:

24-Hour Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 ​
SMS Text Line: 233733 (BEFREE)

National Human Trafficking Resource Center: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
Human Trafficking Overview & News: https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking
Indicators of Human Trafficking: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
Maryland Human Trafficking Resources: http://www.mdhumantrafficking.org/
Virginia Human Trafficking Resources: https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/human-trafficking/human-trafficking-response-virginia
DC Human Trafficking Resources: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/district-columbia

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Drug Prevention
    • Law Enforcement
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Overview
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Equal Opportunity Employer
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
  • Policies
    • Accessibility, Plug-ins & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
Home

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster