RALEIGH, N.C. — Data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline shows 922 contacts from North Carolina, including 318 survivors in 2021.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline shows 922 contacts from North Carolina
  • That includes 318 survivors in 2021
  • The number of people who contacted the office is down by more than 1,000 calls from 2020
  • Antonio Salazar Hobson, who now lives in San Francisco, was 4 years old when he was kidnapped in front of his siblings by a couple and taken to a ranch in California

 

The number of people who contacted the office is down by more than 1,000 calls from 2020.

Antonio Salazar Hobson, who now lives in San Francisco, shares his story across the country.

He was 4 years old when he was kidnapped in front of his siblings by a couple and taken to a ranch in California.

“When I was 4 years old, a childless couple abducted me and had me transported for nearly six years in California, and so it was a very difficult time,” Hobson said. “I do want to ensure people that this is a very positive story. Yes, it begins with early childhood tragedy. It's really to provide a legacy for my own family, the Salazars,” Hobson explained.

Hobson says there was not an investigation for two years when he was kidnapped.

“That’s because I was dark, monolingual and came from a very poor family, and so no effort was done,” Hobson said. “This same pattern has occurred with thousands of other people."

Hobson wants to help people of color affected by human trafficking.

“We are going to work hard towards this next goal of really getting federal funding resources,” Hobson stated.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, and in North Carolina, it's a pressing issue.

Hobson has tips every parent needs to know.

“What will often happen is, is that the child will become silent. You will notice that they have out of nowhere an inappropriate relationship with either a relative or with an individual which has some money,” Hobson said. “And what will happen is that they will become silent."

Depression and changes in a child’s behavior are other red flags.

Hobson encourages people to speak out.

“In my example, my family shattered within 10 days, a family of 14 children. They never reunited for 24 years,” Hobson stated. “The only reason they reunited was that I was able to find them after a 24-year search based on the love of my mother, Petra. And at that point, it's now been 40 years. The family came back together."