Executive Summary
- The Santa Maria Rotary Club will host a human trafficking awareness forum in late January.
- Santa Barbara County has seen nearly 300 trafficking investigations in the last decade.
- Experts note a sharp rise in online trafficking activity following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The event aims to improve community training and identification of trafficking threats.
The Santa Maria Rotary Club, in partnership with the local Human Trafficking Task Force, is preparing to host its annual awareness forum in late January to address the persistent threat of human trafficking in the region. Organizers aim to bolster community education and training as local data indicates the issue remains prevalent in Northern Santa Barbara County.
Alia Azariah, a survivor of human trafficking and the current aftercare director for the Safe House Project, stated that the Santa Maria Valley continues to be significantly impacted by these crimes. Azariah observed that online trafficking activities saw a sharp increase during the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained at elevated levels, largely due to increased youth engagement on social media platforms.
According to data regarding Santa Barbara County, authorities have initiated nearly 300 human trafficking investigations over the last decade. Members of the Human Trafficking Task Force, which has been operating for 12 years, emphasized that while the forum serves as a focal point for awareness, the criminal activity itself is a constant issue requiring year-round vigilance.
Community Safety Outlook
The persistence of human trafficking investigations in the region highlights the critical need for public engagement and preventative education. By shifting focus to online grooming tactics, the forum aims to equip residents with the tools necessary to identify potential threats in digital spaces. This proactive community approach is essential for supporting law enforcement efforts to dismantle trafficking networks operating within the Santa Maria Valley.
