Executive Summary
- Lawrence organizations are preparing for a potential spike in human trafficking during the 2026 World Cup.
- Specialized training is being offered to hospitality workers to identify warning signs of exploitation.
- Police Chief Rich Lockhart estimates current trafficking statistics significantly undercount the actual prevalence.
- Officials warn that large population influxes during celebrations historically correlate with increased trafficking activity.
LAWRENCE, Kan. — In preparation for the significant influx of international visitors expected during the 2026 World Cup, nonprofit organizations and law enforcement agencies in the Kansas City metropolitan area have launched collaborative initiatives designed to identify and interdict human trafficking operations.
The first phase of this initiative involves specialized training sessions scheduled for Thursday, specifically targeting employees within the hospitality industry. The curriculum is designed to equip service workers with the necessary skills to recognize and respond to indicators of both labor and sex trafficking within the region’s hotels and venues.
According to Adrianne Nuñez, communications director for the Willow Domestic Violence Center, large-scale celebratory events historically correlate with a rise in exploitation. "Any time that there is an increase in population, especially when it’s a celebratory kind of situation, there’s going to be an increase in both labor and sex trafficking," Nuñez stated regarding the anticipated impact of the tournament.
Data from the Willow Domestic Violence Center indicates they currently encounter up to 40 trafficking cases annually. However, Lawrence Police Department Chief Rich Lockhart emphasized that these figures likely do not reflect the full scope of the issue. "I will tell you that 20-to-40 a year is significantly undercounting how many people are actually in this situation, [even] in a city like Lawrence," Chief Lockhart noted.
Nuñez outlined specific behavioral indicators for public awareness, including individuals who appear controlled, exhibit signs of violence, show significant age disparities with companions, or are vague regarding their employment. Chief Lockhart added that while officers are trained to identify these signs, the volume of visitors necessitates community vigilance to assist law enforcement.
Public Safety Strategy
As the region prepares to host World Cup matches, the proactive alignment between social advocacy groups and law enforcement highlights a shift toward preventative community policing. By training civilian sectors such as hospitality staff to act as force multipliers, authorities aim to mitigate the increased risk profile associated with high-density international events. This strategy underscores the operational challenge of securing soft targets while managing crowd control and logistics for a global sporting event.
