Human Trafficking in Narcotics Investigations Sponsored by Rocky Mountain HIDTA and Hope for Justice (1)

Synopsis:

 There are an estimated 50 million human trafficking victims worldwide. In the United States alone, 400  thousand people are exploited through either sex trafficking or labor trafficking. In 2021, these traffickers  earned approximately $150 billion dollars, more than any fortune 500 company including Apple, Amazon,  Disney, General Motors and Ford. What does human trafficking have to do with narcotics trafficking, and how  can taking this training help my narcotics investigations? Human traffickers use numerous methods to select,  groom and maintain control over their victims. In particular, once a victim is selected and the grooming process  begins, the trafficker almost always introduces an illegal substance to the victim. That substance creates a  dependency/addiction that the trafficker leverages against the victim. That addiction, coupled with the other  psychological and physiological dependencies created by the trafficker, make it near impossible for the victim  to escape. When law enforcement encounters a human trafficker, there are always associated crimes involved.  Generally, narcotics and/or weapons related. These traffickers usually deal in narcotics, commit other violent  crimes and subject their human commodities to horrific acts they are otherwise unwilling to commit. The simple  fact is that unlike narcotics, the human commodity never runs out and is always available. There is no need to  resupply. If we advance one step further, the COVID pandemic and current status of the porous southern border  have created the perfect opportunity for drug cartels to diversify their illicit business into human smuggling and  human trafficking. These cartels exploit migrants’ desire for a better life. The ease of their existing drug routes  are used to transport and exploit these human commodities along with the illicit drugs into the United States.  Many times, these migrant indentured servants are used as pawns to transport these drugs. This expansion has in  effect tripled the cartel’s profits, which include not only drug proceeds, but the proceeds of human smuggling  (Fee or Piso) and indentured servitude (Trafficking victim). This training is the same course that we provide  to the DEA, US State Department and numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the US. It is Human  Trafficking in Narcotics Investigations, and it covers the direct correlation between human trafficking and all  levels of narcotics investigations, from street level to transnational trafficking. In this course we will cover: What is human trafficking; The differences between human trafficking and human smuggling; How traffickers  select and groom their victims; How narcotics are related to human trafficking; How and why the Mexican  drug cartels have expanded into human trafficking and human smuggling; How to recognize the signs of  human trafficking; What to do when you encounter a human trafficking victim; Proactive and reactive  investigative steps to further your investigation; How to investigate human trafficking; What to do when on  the scene; Device interrogation; Electronic exploitation; What to ask for in your court orders; Means of relief  for victims, and who to contact for referrals and assistance.

 Lesson Plan:

 The eight-hour lesson plan will be conducted with the assistance of Power Point slides presented in eight  individual sections. The sections are prefaced with an introduction of who Hope for Justice is, what the  organization does, some brief statistics, and the career bios of the two instructors (Attached). Section I provides  the legal definition and requirements to successfully prosecute human trafficking. Section II is focused on the  Drug Cartel expansion into human smuggling and human trafficking. This lesson starts with the similarities and  differences between human trafficking and human smuggling. This lesson then discusses the twelve major  Mexican Cartels, their routes, CPOT reporting of US locations those cartels are operating, why and how they  have diversified into human commodities, various supporting news articles and government statistics, and a  review of why Mexico is ranked as the third worst country for human trafficking behind Thailand and  Cambodia. Instructors will identify how the narcotics trade is intertwined with human trafficking from the street  level drug dealer/pimp to transnational criminal organizations. Section III addresses human trafficking of  domestic origins. The instructors cover the common pathways that a victim is pushed/pulled into victimization  as well as numerous facts and earnings statistics of the traffickers. Section IV discusses where human  trafficking is located in the US. Instructors will identify what industries we find sex and labor trafficking  domestically and review some misconceptions commonly associated with trafficking victims. Section V covers  how to identify a trafficking victim and the barriers that exist to identification. Instructors will review the  common signs exhibited by sex and labor trafficking victims and provide several case studies as examples.  Section VI provides in depth information on electronic exploitation commonly used by traffickers to obtain and  groom their victims. Instructors will review social media platforms, solicitation websites, and methods used by  traffickers to ensnare children and adult victims. Section VII deals with which specific federal and state laws  address human trafficking. Section VIII is specific to what a law enforcement officers should do when  encountering a human trafficking victim, and the investigative steps and resources available to build a  prosecutable case. Instructors will address the steps to take when on scene, the types of indicators and evidence  to look for, the investigative tools and resources available to assist, and the available immigration relief and  referral agencies that can help. Instructors will also discuss various technological resources relative to device  interrogation, electronic evidence exploitation and what investigators need to request in court orders and  preservation letters

Instructors:  

William "Bill" Loucks Jr Bill is currently the North Carolina senior investigator for Hope For Justice, where he conducts human trafficking investigations for a  non-governmental organization (NGO).  Bill spent four years as an instructor for the North Carolina Department of Justice-Justice Academy (NCJA) in Edneyville where he  instructed gang and narcotics-related courses. He also served as the school director (SD) for the prescription drug diversion  investigator and supervisor’s certification courses. Bill was also the qualified assistant (QA) school director over the specialized  explosives & hazardous materials commissioned course. Bill has instructed more than 10,000 individuals on controlled substances,  gangs, and human trafficking. Bill retired from the Metro Nashville Tennessee Police Department in August 2018. Bill spent 13 of his 15 1/2 years with Metro PD  working as a gang and narcotics detective. Throughout his time with Metro PD, Bill had written more than 800 search warrants and  been involved in more than 1000 search warrant executions. He has been the affiant on and taken part in multiple T-III (wiretap) cases. Bill is experienced in functioning undercover in both gang and drug-related cases. Bill has also testified in Nashville Davidson  County, TN, Criminal, General Sessions, and Juvenile Courts as a subject matter expert in clandestine labs, and gangs.  Bill has more than 17,000 Hrs. and 10 years of investigative experience ranging from transnational criminal organizations  (TCO/cartel), street dealers, organized crime, homicides, weapons violations, fraud rings, identity theft, etc. He has conducted more  than 500 seizures ranging from US currency, cars, boats, houses, guns, bank accounts (writs of attachment), etc. Bill has shut down  and padlocked businesses in the past over nuisance/abatement orders.  Before his police career, Bill spent 8 ½ years in the United States Army. Bill served three years as a cannon member in the 82nd Airborne Division. In his last five years, Bill worked as a Flight Engineer with the Task Force 160th Special Operations Aviation  Regiment (SOAR - Night Stalkers) on the MH-47E Chinook helicopter.  

Jeff Bolettieri served twenty-seven years as a Deputy Sheriff with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, New York, where he spent  twelve years assigned as an investigator with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and eleven years assigned as an Investigator  Sergeant with the SIU. Additionally, Jeff spent sixteen years assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Drug  Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF). Eleven of those years he was assigned as the Executive Officer at the DEA supervising task force  personnel and overseeing cases. As the Executive Officer in Charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division Task  Force (NYDEATF), Jeff was responsible for the supervision of personnel assigned as Task Force Officers to the NYDEATF. Supervised  and directed complex criminal investigations and oversaw the planning, coordination and execution of federal and state criminal  investigations targeting large scale transnational and domestic drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Jeff developed,  orchestrated and conducted complex international and domestic criminal investigations. Performed physical and electronic  surveillance, interviewed and interrogated suspects and witnesses, collected, analyzed and interpreted evidence, acted as affiant on  eavesdropping, search, arrest and extradition warrants. Supervised and controlled numerous confidential sources throughout the  United States and South and Central America. Collaborated with state and federal prosecutors and provided trial testimony in  furtherance of narcotics investigations. Jeff is also a certified New York State police instructor. Jeff currently serves as an investigator for Hope for Justice, an international non-profit organization located on five continents  working to bring an end to human trafficking. Jeff is responsible for specialized training and working in Hope for Justice’s  Investigative HUB model across the U.S. Each HUB works closely with law enforcement to assist directly in the rescue of all types of  trafficking victims. The HUB acts as specialist consultants to law enforcement teams handling trafficking cases. Additionally, the HUB  conducts investigations in coordination with law enforcement agencies, the HUB also acts as an alternative pathway for victims  unwilling to speak directly to the authorities to safely report their situation. The HUB is responsible for developing and delivering  specific human trafficking training curriculums for the U.S. government, various law enforcement entities, healthcare systems, and  the banking industry – to name a few.

ENROLLMENT: Open to federal, state and local sworn LEO’S

NO LODGING OR PER DIEM