Gov. Pillen and law enforcement recognize efforts to curb human trafficking

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen said he found it hard to comprehend at first that human trafficking existed in Nebraska. “Somebody’s gotta be making this stuff up,” he said.

But on Friday, he and state law enforcers said the often hidden “scourge” impacted all counties of the state. They held a news conference recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month —  and touted what they described as progress in raising public awareness.

“It can be right next door and we don’t see it,” Pillen said.

He cited a fresh Omaha case in which six people were arrested on suspicion of sex trafficking that involved two juveniles. A police report said officers originally responded Jan. 6 to a theft at the AmericInn near 13th and Spring Streets. As the case progressed, investigators found potential sex trafficking of two minors.

Pillen was joined at the event in the State Capitol by Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Col. John Bolduc of the Nebraska State Patrol and FBI Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowal. Several state senators also attended, as did leaders from nonprofits and other organizations that work to combat trafficking.

The group cited efforts in 2024 to curb the crime defined as forced labor or commercial sex without consent. Among the statewide efforts by the Human Trafficking Task Force under the Attorney General:

• Trained more than 2,000 people to recognize warning signs of trafficking.
• Created a poster to distribute statewide, and videos to help hospitality staff recognize trafficking and to educate high school students on signs of grooming of potential targets of trafficking.
• Worked with a hospital in Winnebago to develop a forensic nursing team to serve survivors of trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence. 
• Hosted the state’s first human trafficking summit in Kearney that drew about 200 people.

In addition, officials said, the Nebraska Human Trafficking Hotline — 833-PLS-LOOK — resulted in law enforcement officers being dispatched to a scene 15 times last year.  The hotline received 113 calls last year, according to a brief report on human trafficking released Friday. 

Since the state’s human trafficking statute was created in 2006, Nebraska has had a total of 27 convictions for trafficking or attempted trafficking under the law, the report said.

Last year, the report said, 12 defendants statewide were convicted of felonies for human trafficking-related charges.

Hilgers said his office each January holds an event to recommit the state to “end this illegal evil and no longer allow it to thrive in the shadows.”