N.J. State Police’s Human Trafficking unit is working overtime to save victims

Wettengel said his unit’s job doesn’t end with a bust.

“We are always following up with them, making sure they’re okay, they’re good, especially if they’re going to be testifying in court, it’s a lot for them to deal with,” he said.

Even undocumented immigrants caught in the trafficking web are entitled to services, he said.

New Jersey State Police Major Tom Wieczerak is the commanding officer of the Special Investigations Section, which includes the Human Trafficking Unit.

He said his team goes beyond rescuing human trafficked survivors by going after the traffickers.

“With the location of New Jersey, with all the arteries, the Turnpike and all these interstates, it’s definitely something that is on the rise,” he said.

When to intervene

How do you look for signs of trafficking?

Wieczerak said common sense is key, and if something seems odd, it’s worth reporting.

“If you see young girls in hotels that may be dressed provocatively with older men, that can be a red flag,” he said.

Leese said sometimes it’s just a matter of “trusting one’s gut”.

“If you see women that are afraid to speak for themselves, it doesn’t hurt to look into it a little further, or call the authorities to do the same thing,” she said.

If human trafficking is suspected, New Jersey has a 24-hour human trafficking hotline number that can be called anonymously, 1-855-END-NJHT, which is 1-855-363-6548.

How to prevent trafficking?

Leese said education and awareness, especially for young men and women, is critically important to prevent human trafficking going forward, and her agency is working with local police departments to bring presentations into schools for kids as young as elementary school level.

“It’s making sure we’re having conversations with our children about what could happen, everything is on social media, a lot of things are considered acceptable, and kids may not know the danger they’re getting into,” she said. “It’s also making parents aware of danger signs they need to be aware of.”

Hershey said that with the World Cup coming to New Jersey in 2026, the problem is expected to increase exponentially, and his unit will be working closely with the FBI and authorities in Philadelphia to stop it.

Miller now works as an advocate, supporting victims of child and adults in recovery, who have been sex and labor trafficked.

Her advice to young women who start going down a slippery slope is simple: tell someone.

“Find your trusted adult, we know if there’s one adult who is healthy in a child’s life, chances of success (and help) are greater, talk to somebody, don’t keep it inside.”