The U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), has awarded a $1.6 million grant to The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention to create the Louisiana Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with Louisiana State Police.

Fighting Human Trafficking

According to Governor Landry, “Those who traffic and exploit innocent people will find no refuge in Louisiana. We will continue to hold traffickers accountable, protect victims, and give our law enforcement the tools they need as we work to make our communities safer.” The task force aims to strengthen investigations into human trafficking and support Louisiana law enforcement agencies through training and technical assistance, interagency coordination, and victim service collaboration.

Colonel Frank Besson, Louisiana State Police Superintendent, stated, “Louisiana State Police is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to rescue victims, identify offenders, and combat exploitation and trafficking. We are grateful to receive this funding, which will strengthen training, improve coordination among our law enforcement partners, and enhance our response to human trafficking across Louisiana.”

Mary Kate Andrepont, Executive Director of the Office of Human Trafficking Prevention, added, “This grant funding marks another step in our state’s trailblazing path. The Louisiana Human Trafficking Task Force will set a new standard for victim-centered investigations and multidisciplinary collaboration.”

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.