Police in TN Valley explain Human Trafficking protocol after TBI warns of Venezuelan Gang activity

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says there is activity of the Venezuelan gang, Tren De Aragua (TDA), in every major city in the state.

"They are in Tennessee. Primarily we see them engaged in human trafficking," said TBI Director, David Rausch.

Both the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office say neither agencies have evidence of TDA in our area, but the TBI has an explanation for that.

"Those agencies may not be able to tell you what is going on directly in their community that we might know, because they aren't exposed to it at this level, yet," said Rausch.


TBI says Venezuelan gang operating in Chattanooga; local law enforcement denies
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and Chattanooga Police Department said they have received multiple inquiries regarding TDA, but have no evidence to prove their presence.

Rausch says the agency has specialized operations targeting human trafficking.

Overall, Human Trafficking hotline calls have skyrocketed since 2016, according to a 2023 TBI report.
 
The TBI says they will provide details with local agencies when they feel it is necessary.
"We share the information with law enforcement that is particular, it is specific, when we have it and when we can," said Rausch.
 
Local 3 News reached out to several of our local law enforcement in the Tennessee Valley.

Chattanooga Police Dept.
The Chattanooga Police Department has two units in charge of human trafficking investigations that include federal task force officers.
 
"The Chattanooga Police Department has two units, the Vice Unit and the Special Victims Unit, that conduct human trafficking investigations. Some of those investigators are also federal task force officers.

There were recent news releases sent by the U.S.A.O. in which CPD's Special Victims Unit investigated human trafficking cases with HSI and other law enforcement partners."

East Ridge Police Dept.
"We routinely interface with state and federal agencies during investigations and prosecutions. In the case of human trafficking, those agencies are generally TBI, Homeland Security, Children's Services, or any other entity pertinent to the specific case at hand."

Collegedale Police Dept.
"Human trafficking in Tennessee is comprised of several offenses - forced or involuntary labor, trafficking commercial sex acts, and prostitution-related offenses. As with any criminal investigation, investigators work to solve the crime. During the course of these investigations we often confer or partner with our peers in local, state, and federal agencies. Thankfully, the state of Tennessee has consistently been ranked among the best in the nation for its approach to this crime. This is because of how we address trafficking crimes. Collegedale investigators are members of state and federal task forces who work to eliminate this threat, and it is because of commitments such as these that Collegedale investigators consistently maintain a solve rate that far exceeds that of the state average."

For more information on signs to look for in a victim potentially being trafficked, read more.

The TBI's full statistical report for human trafficking in 2023 can be found below:
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