Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today announced the indictment of five individuals charged with running sex trafficking operations across the state.
The five individuals charged with sex trafficking had three different networks operating out of Lowell, Worcester and Revere.
Healey was joined at a press conference by federal and state law enforcement officials who are working together to stifle what is believed to be a growing criminal enterprise.
"In one case, a trafficker in Lowell lured women using fentanyl then dropped them off, one by one, to solicit and engage in sex acts on the street," Healey said. "He took advantage of these women, who are desperately struggling with substance use … even set a quota for how many men they had to have sex with each day."
Healey also noted that a spike in sex trafficking coincides with an increase in opiate and heroin use across the state.
"There's a significant problem right now with respect to the use of opioids, fentanyl, heroin, other drugs, crack cocaine, you name it, as a means for luring victims into this industry," she said.
Cherie Jimenez has seen it first hand. She’s a survivor of trafficking who runs Eva’s Center, a resource center for exploited women in Boston.
"Some of these women are actually being preyed on because of their vulnerability—addiction issues, and we've clearly seen that and it's really troublesome."
Advocates and police represented at the press conference also note something else. Organized gangs—not just individual pimps—are branching out from narcotics to human trafficking. In recent months police have cracked down on MS-13 in Somerville, the Columbia Point Dawgs in Dorchester and Nauti Block on the Cape.
Matthew Etre, special agent in charge for homeland security investigations, couldn't comment on cases underway, but said the FBI is pursuing investigations into gangs trafficking women to fund their organizations.
"It's a way for us to combat the problem of gangs and trafficking," he said.
Healey was asked if the increase in police resources statewide for combatting sex trafficking is being matched by resources for those rescued from the underground trade. Jimenez answered that question for her.
"We have made progress," she said. "I have to say it's been because of this sort of collaboration and efforts on all of our parts in getting and pushing for funding so we're getting there, so we are getting there—much different than it was like three or four years ago."
But Jimenez and representatives from groups like My Life My Choice say more funding is needed because they are seeing more survivors of sex trafficking knocking at their doors.
