Horry reported most human trafficking in SC for 3rd year in a row, AG’s report shows
Horry County continued to lead the state in reported instances of human trafficking for a third consecutive year, according to the South Carolina Attorney General’s 2021 report
The state’s Human Trafficking Task Force released its annual report Monday, and Attorney General Alan Wilson noted that total reports in South Carolina are down from 139 in 2020 to 121 in 2021, but the total number of reported victims is up from 179 to 206.
Wilson added that the S.C. Department of Social Services is also seeing an increase in the number of children identified as human trafficking victims.
Reports do not indicate cases, but rather calls made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, so Horry having the most reports in the state does not necessarily mean the crime is being committed in the county more than anywhere else in South Carolina.
Horry County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Sherrie Smith, who co-chairs the local human trafficking task force, has previously said that she sees the high number of reports in Horry as a positive because it means the public has increased awareness.
There were 19 reports of human trafficking in Horry last year, according to the report, down from 24 the previous year.
Richland (12), Greenville (11), Charleston (10) and Spartanburg (9) counties followed Horry with the next highest number of reports.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and anyone who suspects they’ve witnessed an instance of sex or labor trafficking is encouraged to call the national hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 10:41 AM.
