South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who chairs the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, has unveiled the 2024 Annual Report at the State House. The release was attended by Task Force leadership and representatives from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The report presents data on human trafficking in South Carolina.
In 2024, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigated 285 tips involving nearly 400 potential victims. Most of these cases involved minors. Investigations took place in 40 counties across the state, with only six counties not reporting any cases. Greenville led with 32 investigations, followed by Richland and Charleston with 31 each, Horry with 22, Lexington with 21, Berkeley with 18, and Spartanburg with 16.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported a total of 64 trafficking incidents and identified 111 likely victims in South Carolina. Greenville, Horry, Richland, Spartanburg, and Charleston were the top five counties for reported incidents. Labor trafficking primarily occurred in small businesses while sex trafficking was most prevalent in hotels and motels.
Attorney General Wilson expressed gratitude for efforts to combat human trafficking: “I am grateful for the collective contributions of many in South Carolina’s anti-human trafficking efforts,” he said. “Our state continues to be a model of how best to address this heinous crime.”
In response to these issues, the General Assembly allocated $6.5 million in funding for residential programs specifically targeting minor victims of human trafficking. The Task Force plans to launch a grant program in 2025 to develop at least three programs for girls and one for boys—the latter being a first for South Carolina.
“The data tells us that traffickers are predominately targeting young people in South Carolina,” said Kathryn Moorehead, Director of the Task Force. “Soon we will begin the first phase of ensuring that children and youth who have been victimized get the care that they need.”
Present at the event were First Lady Peggy McMaster; SLED Chief Mark Keel; State Task Force Subcommittee Chairs; regional task force chairs; nonprofit leaders; and other advocates against human trafficking.
For more information or to access the annual report visit humantrafficking.scag.gov. To report an incident or seek victim services call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 which operates confidentially around-the-clock.