New Hampshire Human Trafficking Task Force, Sex and Labor Trafficki…

Concord, N.H. — A $1.3 million federal grant is flooding into New Hampshire to fuel a coordinated crackdown on sex and labor trafficking, arming law enforcement and social services with the tools to dismantle trafficking networks and shield victims. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, targets the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force — a coalition built to confront one of the state’s most hidden, vicious crimes.

The money will formalize a statewide assault on traffickers, expanding investigative reach, prosecution capabilities, and victim support systems. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorney Emily Gray Rice, the effort unites the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and anti-trafficking nonprofit Give Way to Freedom. Their mission: to transform fragmented responses into a relentless, victim-centered machine.

“This grant brings much-needed funding that will substantially enhance our ability to pursue human trafficking investigations and prosecutions in the future,” Rice declared. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement and community partners to identify and prosecute individuals who are engaged in human trafficking. We will work tirelessly to bring these criminals to justice in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the victims of this very serious crime.”

At the core of the operation is the understanding that traffickers prey on the vulnerable — runaway youth, undocumented immigrants, the unhoused. “Fundamental to the Collaborative’s efforts is the understanding that human trafficking impacts vulnerable people and populations, and any true response must include support to prevent and address vulnerability in whatever form it may take,” said Erin Albright, Regional Program Director of Give Way to Freedom.

HSI Boston Special Agent in Charge Matt Etre stressed that victim cooperation is non-negotiable for convictions. “A victim who can tell their story and testify as a competent witness is key to a successful human trafficking investigation and prosecution,” Etre said. “Unless we can address the needs of the victim — whether that be by facilitating long-term care, or by assisting with potential immigration benefits — our efforts to hold traffickers responsible will be hindered.”

The task force, originally formed through a 2016 Enhanced Collaborative Model grant, now includes over 30 agencies across law enforcement, legal services, and social welfare. “We’ve seen first-hand how trafficking, both sex and labor, is impacting people of all ages here in New Hampshire, especially those in vulnerable or marginalized circumstances,” said Erin Kelly of Child and Family Services. Chief Nick Willard of the Manchester Police Department added, “This grant allows us to move forward in developing a multi-disciplinary, victim centered approach to addressing the ever increasing number of Human Trafficking cases that are coming to light in the city of Manchester and throughout the state.” 

RELATED: Border Crosser Walks Free, Gets One-Way Ticket Home

RELATED: Manhattan ‘Slug’ Indicted in Deadly Fentanyl Overdose