NORMAL, Ill. (IWMBD) — The Illinois State Police announced that it, in conjunction with Normal Police, raided an area massage spa and recovered a person who had been trafficked.
Details were sparse from the ISP but according to the agency, Normal police received a call on April 23 from the victim saying they were at the spa and were a victim of human trafficking. The Normal police officer then contacted the state police.
Armed with a search warrant, the ISP and Normal police went to the business and then “assisted the victim in getting essential services to help them with their recovery.”
During human trafficking operations, the state police routinely works closely with local partners to provide essential services to victims, including medical, mental, and substance abuse treatment, as well as food, clothing, short and long-term housing, financial aid, and help obtaining legal assistance.
The Bloomington Police Department has also increased efforts to crack down on businesses that are involved with illicit activities, including human trafficking. These multi-jurisdictional efforts are aimed at stopping human trafficking in McLean County, the state police said.
Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts, labor, or services against their will. The ISP continues its multifaceted approach toward protecting those most vulnerable with its ongoing statewide human trafficking enforcement operations. The signs of human trafficking can be subtle; to learn more, please visit Recognizing the Signs | National Human Trafficking Hotline.
If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email [email protected].
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