the importance of collaborative relationships to effectively address the issue. He spoke on some of the initiatives the United Kingdom has undertaken and shared this information.

          The keynote address presented by Marcy Forman, Director of the Office of Investigations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was fascinating. She spoke on the ability and success of ICE in using financial and immigration authorities to dismantle criminal organizations; specifically those organizations involved in the smuggling/trafficking of humans. 

          Several successful cases were shared with the audience that was comprised of international police attaches, federal agents and analysts from FBI, ICE, ATF, IRS, FinCen, local police officers, representatives from non-governmental agencies, and college professors. The mix of the group proved to be beneficial as many points of view were discussed during each of the presentations. Ms. Forman is considered an expert in money laundering and emphasized the importance of following the money to severely impact these groups and their operations. The international routes used by human traffickers are the same routes used by drug traffickers. Ms. Forman pointed out the importance of working with non-governmental agencies (NGO’s) as one of the major cases she discussed was referred to ICE by a local New York non-profit NGO. 

          Dr. Ann Jordan, Director, Initiative Against Trafficking in Persons, and Ms. Joy Zaremba, Director for Break the Chain, represented the NGO’s panel and discussed the initiatives undertaken to identify victims before deportation and working in concert with law enforcement. These two women have been on the forefront of the trafficking issue for many years and are excellent resources for law enforcement. They have trained law enforcement on many occasions and are true professionals in their field.

          The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a panel headed up by headquarters supervisory special agent Stan Strauss. Agent Strauss’ commitment is apparent in this field as he always supports any request from WIFLE, NCWP and NGO’s to address this topic. He organized the panel for the FBI and brought other FBI agents to discuss transnational crime, crimes against children, and international efforts to combat human trafficking and terrorism. While in the FBI’s Dallas field office, S.A. Strauss was the case agent for a large trafficking investigation that resulted in a successful prosecution.

          Closing out the day was the panel on initiatives to combat the exploitation of children. Agent James Plitt, Director for ICE Cyber Crimes Center, and John Shehan, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), CyberTipline Program Manager, provided valuable information to all on cyber stalking of children and what is being done through partnerships worldwide like the Virtual Global Taskforce for children and NCMEC’s efforts in training and working with law enforcement.

          By the end of the day we all left with a renewed sense of vigor to remain confident in all of our abilities to defeat this organized criminal element. But recently the United Nations has reported that human trafficking is now tied with gun trafficking as the number 2 money maker for organized crime and terrorists with drug trafficking remaining the number one money maker. In 2003 the Justice Department predicted that human trafficking will take over in the next decade as the number one illegal financial source for organized crime. WIFLE will do more on this topic in the future.

Marcy Forman's Biography  |  Return to December's Newsletter