Arkansas State Police Reaffirm Commitment to Combating Human Trafficking During Awareness Month

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — “We are confronting human trafficking head-on in Arkansas,” said Col. Mike Hagar, Arkansas secretary of public safety and director of the Arkansas State Police. “Through the dedicated work of law enforcement and the strong support of our victim service partners, we have made real progress — rescuing victims, holding offenders accountable, and strengthening our response statewide. This fight requires teamwork, and together we remain committed to protecting the vulnerable and ending human trafficking in our communities.”

In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Arkansas State Police is reaffirming its commitment to protecting victims, strengthening investigations and enhancing statewide collaboration to combat all forms of human trafficking.

In 2025, the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council, in partnership with other agencies, conducted two victim-centered human trafficking operations in Fort Smith and West Memphis.

During these operations, multidisciplinary teams contacted 21 adults and immediately offered access to medical care, advocacy services and needs assessments. Investigators and victim specialists identified 61 additional trafficking victims, bringing the total number of identified victims from the operations to 82.

The council received 110 human trafficking reports, while the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline received 72 trafficking reports and 354 reports of sexual exploitation. These reports underscore the continued threat trafficking poses to vulnerable Arkansans, particularly youth.

“From day one of this administration, protecting children and combating human trafficking have been our priority,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “Prevention begins with awareness, training and early intervention, which is why I signed an executive order to establish the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council and put victims first at every step. I’m grateful to the Arkansas State Police for their tireless work this year to recover missing children, protect the most vulnerable and hold traffickers accountable.”

The council continues to operate as an enhanced collaborative model, jointly led by the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and the Arkansas Department of Human Services, to implement survivor-centered policy, investigative coordination and statewide training initiatives.

“It’s easy to think of human trafficking as something that only happens in big cities or in other countries,” said Attorney General Tim Griffin. “But human trafficking impacts communities large and small, all over the world, including here in Arkansas. My office’s investigations into illicit massage businesses in the past year have shown that human trafficking is taking place in large and small communities all across our state. We must all remain vigilant and learn to recognize signs of human trafficking. If you see something, say something.”

Arkansas DHS Secretary Janet Mann added, “We are committed to rooting out human trafficking in our state, to protecting would-be victims, and to bringing the perpetrators to justice. We are grateful for the leadership and partnership from Governor Sanders, the Attorney General’s Office and the Arkansas State Police as we work together to prevent and investigate trafficking in our state, and we encourage all Arkansans to report any suspicious activity and help us put a stop to this despicable crime.”

Through its Law Enforcement Committee, the council launched a new Missing Child Committee and delivered training to more than 3,000 community members, investigators, advocates and partner agencies statewide, strengthening Arkansas’s ability to identify victims, report safely and respond effectively.

The Arkansas State Police also highlighted the continued success of VALOR — Victory through Advocacy, Law Enforcement, Outreach and Recovery — a biweekly, multidisciplinary working group embedded within the council’s Law Enforcement Committee. VALOR brings together state and local law enforcement, prosecutors, child welfare professionals, advocacy organizations and federal partners to rapidly identify, locate and recover missing children while ensuring immediate access to trauma-informed victim services to reduce the risk of revictimization and exploitation.

In 2025, VALOR assisted in the recovery of 204 missing children, a significant increase from the 82 recoveries documented in 2024. As of Jan. 1, 2026, there are 103 active missing-child cases involving individuals under 18 in Arkansas, including:

• 45 females

• 59 males

Age at the time of report:

• 10 were age 12 or younger

• 14 were ages 13–15

• 27 were ages 16–17

• 33 are now 18 or older

“Human trafficking remains one of the most complex and urgent threats facing our state,” said Sgt. Foster. “Our mission is simple — protect victims, strengthen investigations and ensure every missing or exploited child has the support, advocacy and resources they need the moment they are found.”

Report Human Trafficking

Arkansas residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity or request assistance through the following channels:

• Email: reportht@arkansas.gov

• Emergency reporting: Dial *277 on any mobile device to reach Arkansas State Police

• Online reporting is also available through the child abuse hotline or the human trafficking tip form

Statewide Community Assessment Initiative

The Arkansas Human Trafficking Council is also launching a threat-based Community Vulnerability Assessment, a data-driven evaluation designed to identify areas where trafficking vulnerabilities and exploitation risks may exist across Arkansas communities.

Unlike a needs assessment, this initiative is designed to:

• Identify and understand root causes of exploitation risk

• Shape statewide outreach priorities and strategies

• Highlight service gaps, training needs and opportunities for collaboration

• Incorporate feedback from law enforcement, advocacy and survivor stakeholders

Survey participation is encouraged across state agencies, local law enforcement, nonprofits, community organizations and professional partners to inform future operational and legislative priorities.

About the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council

Established under Gov. Sanders’ executive order on Feb. 14, 2023, the council operates as a multidisciplinary task force designed to coordinate statewide trafficking prevention, victim support, investigative alignment and prosecution strategy.