AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) 性视界传媒撀營n 2019 Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr created a human trafficking prosecution unit that works hand and hand with local state and federal law enforcement to rescue victims and prosecute offenders throughout the state. And now that unit is expanding to right here in Augusta.

Since Carr性视界传媒檚 human trafficking prosecution unit was created, there性视界传媒檚 been only one Atlanta-based team working to prosecute dangerous offenders.

Officials with the Georgia Attorney General性视界传媒檚 office announcing a new local unit, based in Augusta.

With it comes more eyes of highly skills individuals working to reach more victims.

性视界传媒淲e are excited now to be able to come out to the Augusta area, we性视界传媒檝e hired a prosecutor and investigators out here and we性视界传媒檙e going to be working in this community to fight human trafficking here as well,性视界传媒 said Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, Hannah Palmquist.

The Atlanta team has secured 60 convictions, led or assisted over 330 case investigations and rescued more than 200 children.

Now they come to Augusta as the garden city has become a hotspot for traffickers.

Palmquist says, 性视界传媒淭he system for transportation that exist within Georgia that makes transportation convenient for you and I, unfortunately makes it convenient for human traffickers as well. So not only does Augusta and cities that sit on interstates have the same human trafficking problem that we all have, but they become a thoroughfare for traffickers passing their victims through to other places.性视界传媒

The issue spikes when more people visit the area, so the unit will be on the lookout during events like Masters week.

性视界传媒淭here will be people away from their homes and families who may attempt to solicit commercial sex so anytime you have more buyers in an area potential, you性视界传媒檙e going to have more sellers who come and so certainly we性视界传媒檙e going to be watching that and we性视界传媒檙e going to be looking at how to counter it,性视界传媒 said Palmquist.

With the average age of a victim being 12 to 14-year-old, parents too can help be on the watch for traffickers targeting your children.

Palmquist says, 性视界传媒淎 common way that a trafficker is going to reach out to their child is first to reach out to them online so I would caution parents not to give your child unmonitored internet access because you don性视界传媒檛 know who they性视界传媒檙e speaking to. So, talk to you children educate them and watch what they are doing online.性视界传媒

If you or someone you know if a victim of human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at: 1-888-373-7888.

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