Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will participate in a five-day Human Trafficking Awareness initiative January 8-12, 2024. This initiative is a concentrated effort to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers, law enforcement officers, and the general public about human trafficking, what signs to look for, and what to do in these situations. Human trafficking is illegal exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion. It can take the form of sex trafficking, forced labor, or domestic servitude. Human trafficking is not specific to age, race, or gender, and it occurs in rural, suburban, and urban areas across Missouri. The victims of human trafficking are from all socioeconomic backgrounds and levels of education. Suspected human trafficking can be reported by calling 1-888-373-7888.