Louisiana identified nearly 1,000 children as human trafficking victims last year, with lack of parental supervision flagged as the highest risk factor. The Shreveport business community recently learned about this issue from Laurie McGehee, executive director at FREE: The Coalition to End Human Trafficking in Northwest Louisiana.
Human Trafficking in Louisiana
McGehee delivered a presentation to the North Shreveport Business Association, highlighting the importance of awareness and education on this issue. She emphasized that sex trafficking is a booming industry in America that thrives because there is a serious demand for commercial sex with minors.
According to McGehee, traffickers target vulnerable individuals, using force, fraud or coercion to exploit them. The Coalition to End Human Trafficking maintains a website that provides resources, including a list of red flags and warning signs, to help identify potential victims.
In 2025, state data revealed that 969 youth under the age of 17 were confirmed cases of human trafficking, while another 363 adults aged 18 and over were also identified. Around 155 of the reported cases occurred in Caddo Parish, with the remaining cases primarily located in East Baton Rouge, Jefferson and Orleans parishes.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
