NCSTOPHUMANTRAFFICKING.ORG

It is commonly understood that gang violence and gang involvement plagues many of our communities. It is also commonly understood that gangs typically deal in neighborhood territories, drug trafficking, extortion and arms dealing. But a growing trend in the business of gangs, is human trafficking.

Gangs are venturing more toward the selling and exploitation of people to sustain the organization.

Though they still have a stronghold on drugs and guns, human trafficking is becoming more and more an added normative in the gang life.

Gangs are not only street gangs, but also motorcycle gangs, prison gangs and extremist organizations, such as the KKK and Skinheads.

Keep scrolling if you want to know more …

Let’s understand the scope of gang activity in North Carolina and get a handle on what a gang is.

In North Carolina, a gang is defined as any organization, association or a group of three or more people with the primary purpose to commit illegal activities and shares a common name, color, attire, signs, symbols, etc. to engage in criminal gang activity. READ FULL DEFINITION HERE.

There are very few counties in North Caroline that do not have at least one gang active in them or at risk for gang activity.

Using the “gang mentality” concept, these organizations use the idea that power and respect for the gang are above all. That same gang mentality also is mirrored in territorial wars, fear in the territories that they are running, fear of law enforcement scrutiny and “blood in, blood out.”

“Blood in, blood out” refers to entry into the gang by the drawing of blood and the exit from the gang, which depending on the organization could be a brutal and bloody exit — even meaning death.

READ THE 2013 NATIONAL GANG REPORT.

Leaders of Bloods gang in Raleigh convicted of murder, racketeering

Two leaders of a Bloods gang in Raleigh were found guilty Thursday of murder, racketeering and other crimes following a lengthy federal trial.

Demetrice R. “Respect” Devine, 37, of Garner, and Brandon Jowan “B-Easy” Mangum, 31, of Knightdale, were both convicted of conspiracy to participate in a pattern of racketeering, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of murder with a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit witness tampering.

READ MORE ABOUT THE VIOLENCE OF THEIR CRIMES AND NOTICE THE RETALIATIVE NATURE OF THE MURDERS.

Recruitment

Gangs recruitment tactics are incredibly similar to that of individual traffickers (pimps). They target vulnerable people who:
* Lack support
* Runaway youth
* In search of family or identity (which could look like foster youth)
* Low self-esteem
* Someone who suffers from a mental health issue
* A person lacking healthy relationships
* A victim of previous abuse
* Youth who are at-risk

Control

Gangs also maintain control over other gang members similar to that of human traffickers as well. Here’s how:

There is an air of omnipresence that the gang leaders enjoy. What omnipresence means is that living in a gang-run neighborhood there is always a feeling that the gang will know your whereabouts and what you are doing. It feels that way for gang members, people living in the neighborhood and people the gang is trafficking.

The element of fear and unpredictability is a powerful controller. Members of the gang are feared by the community and each other. Due to the inherent violence of gang life and fear of arrest, fear is the ever-presiding feeling of members. There is also this reality that retaliation is a possibility and a normal part of gang life, whether that retaliation is assault or even death is up to the leadership.

Sense of family and learned loyalty keeps members in check. Gangs recruit from vulnerable populations who lack strong social supports, family and a sense of identity. These people actually join the gang for that sense of identity and family. When that becomes ingrained in their psyches and hearts, that is a strong mechanism to keep members of the gang controlled.

Drugs and alcohol keep many members in place. Gangs also have drugs and alcohol that keeps members and trafficked victims in line.

From the National Criminal Justice Training Center: Hear first-hand from a survivor of gang sex trafficking, Allison, about the everyday life sacrifices made to make the moment livable. Discuss and gain insight into Allison’s survivor story of being sexually abused at a very young age, kidnapped by gang members, and forced into trafficking; and how her rescuer was, in fact, the real trafficker. CLICK TO WATCH TRAINING.

At this point, it should become abundantly clear to you that traffickers and gangs operate in many of the same ways to recruit and maintain control. Now let’s link the two. Keep scrolling ….

Human trafficking, by federal definition, is compelling someone to work or perform a commercial sex act by using force, fraud or coercion.

Gangs use labor and sex trafficking to make money, however, the majority of the cases are sex trafficking. Where the pimp-controlled sex trafficking is more open to a broad demand base and the tell-tale signs of trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation are apparent, gang-controlled sex trafficking is different.

Gang-controlled sex trafficking is limited to the territory the gang runs allowing for other gang members to spot law enforcement.

Another way gangs avoid detection by law enforcement in their sex trafficking operation is relying on buyers they know.

Gangs rarely advertise in the way that individual traffickers do to avoid detection. Victims who are involved in gang-controlled trafficking do not dress as a person participating in commercial sex, but rather in every day street clothes.

If someone is under the age of 18 years old and performing commercial sex acts, then those children are victims of human trafficking.

Gangs do recruit children to be a part of or become affiliated with them. They are often a part of the vulnerable populations mentioned above.

As female entry into gangs vary from sect to sect, many females affiliated with gangs are often exploited for sex. For girls, they are victims of human trafficking.

If someone feels like they have to work for the gang out of fear, coercion or complete manipulation, they are victims of labor trafficking, THAT INCLUDES FORCED ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, SUCH AS DRUG DEALING.

Gangs are incredibly coercive and controlling. As a matter of fact, the entire gang culture is based on controlling territory under any means necessary, which includes violence and extortion.

It is not above the realm of possibility to assume that some gang members do not want to be involved anymore. It is within the realm of possibility to assume that some people who are perceived as “gang bangers” may have no off-ramp that isn’t violent assault, harm to their loved ones or death.

Join Us!

Join the NC Stop Human Trafficking team. Whether you are an individual who wants to be a local advocate, an agency or non-profit who serves possible victims of human trafficking or a leader in business who wishes to join the fight against the injustice that is human trafficking, NC Stop Human Trafficking has an opportunity for you.

When you become a member of NC Stop Human Trafficking, you will receive up-to-date information about the anti-human trafficking movement in North Carolina, opportunities to give your time and talents and trainings that are valuable to your faith-based and civic groups, agency service providers or business.