CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Federal and local officials say Charlotte faces an increasing problem with human trafficking as the population grows and the sports and convention industries increase.
Multiple media outlets reported that officials spoke at a conference in Charlotte on the problems of human trafficking. They were training about 40 members of the hotel and motel industry to identify the signs of trafficking.
Police in Charlotte plan to start a task force in March to help identify human traffickers and arrest them.
U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose says traffickers bring young women into a community where there is a large sporting event or a convention and have them exploited by those attending the events.
Authorities say those most vulnerable to human traffickers are immigrants and runaways.