(RightIsRight.co) – New Jersey’s law enforcement scored a significant victory in the battle against the scourge of human trafficking as it dismantled and charged seven people involved in two major rings exploiting children.
The most alarming case involves 21-year-old Khailah Meekins and 28-year-old Donte Barkley, who stand accused of trafficking three underage girls, 15 and 13, forced into sexual slavery in Essex County.
As part of the abuse, Meekins used extreme violence, including beating victims with an electrical cord, to maintain control over the young girls.
Meanwhile, Barkley is accused of advertising the victims online using nude photos and arranging meetings with strangers through smartphone apps.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin did not mince words when describing the horrors inflicted upon these children, stating they were “subjecting them to sexual assaults by strangers” and forcing them to endure this abuse “on a weekly basis.”
“Ridding the world of human trafficking is not an easy task, and not one that we will accomplish alone,” Platkin said. “But as New Jerseyans, we know we are in this fight.”
The second trafficking ring, operating out of Cumberland County, lured women under false pretenses and forced them into commercial sex work at a Bridgeton brothel.
This operation, led by 42-year-old Usiel Luna and his co-conspirators, preyed on vulnerable women and exploited them for financial gain.
A raid on the brothel and Luna’s home uncovered $50,000 in cash, along with methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana – a clear indication of the connection between drug trafficking and human exploitation.
New Jersey’s status as a hub for human trafficking is deeply troubling. Since 2007, over 2,100 cases have been identified in the state.
“We know that the FBI considers New Jersey to be a hub for this type of activity,” Platkin acknowledged, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Furthermore, the state’s increased efforts against human trafficking are commendable, with more defendants charged in 2024 than in the previous five years combined.
However, this surge in prosecutions also reveals the alarming scale of the problem and the need for even more aggressive action.
The fight against human trafficking is far from over, but these recent busts demonstrate that when law enforcement is empowered to do its job, justice can prevail.
The New Jersey Human Trafficking Hotline (855-END-NJ-HT) provides a crucial lifeline for victims and witnesses alike.
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