• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Friday, August 1
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/01/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Children in Danger

    Toddler Hospitalized After Getting Hold of Marijuana Vape 

    “I’ll Just Let Myself In”: Welfare Check Leads to Oversleeping Discovery 

    Police lights in rear view 2

    🚨 TRAFFIC STOP TURNS INTO JAIL DROP: MOM BUSTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES 🚗👶 

    Jimmy Wombles

    🚨 CAPTURED! Accused Rapist Who Escaped Scioto County Facility Now in Custody 🚨 

    Jimmy Wombles

    🚨 RAPIST ON THE RUN: Inmate Escapes From Scioto County Lockdown Facility 🚨

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/31/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Homeless Task Force

    Nowhere to Go: Homeless Woman Pleads for Help, Winds Up in Jail—Then Back on the Streets 

    Sunset Bowling

    🚨 BRICKS, BATS & BOWLING ALLEY BRAWLS! STREET CHAOS ROCKS THE AFTERNOON 💥 

    SCDN File Photo

    “You Can’t Stay Here!” — Man’s Belongings Thrown into Yard in Domestic Blow-Up

    💥”I’LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!”—NURSE TARGETED IN BIZARRE FACEBOOK FURY!💻💀 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/30/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Laura “Mikki” Elliott

    Desperate Search Underway for Missing Mom Who Vanished After Leaving Portsmouth Rehab

    Domestic Meltdown: Woman Flees in Underwear with Toddler, Man Arrested After Chase

    “This Is My Yard!” — Woman Threatens Resident, Ends Up in Handcuffs

    TikTok Terror: 12-Year-Old Girl’s Disturbing Videos Trigger Police Response

    Sticky Fingers

    ‍♀️ MYSTERIOUS MISSY STRIKES AGAIN: Snack Bandit Lounges for 4 Hours, Then Makes Her Move🥩🧀 

    Tragic Discovery

    🚨 One Gone, One Saved: Overdose Calls Highlight Ongoing Drug Crisis in Portsmouth 

    🚨 Gun Panic at Farley Square! —Cops Called In 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/29/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    “I’m Not Here to Replace Cathy”: New Commissioner Merit Smith Says He’ll Lead with Life Experience 

    Merit Smith

    Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    Scottie Powell

    “Run on Vision, Not Attacks”: Powell Offers Advice to Candidates Vying for Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    🌿 Bamboo Gets Fast-Tracked at City Hall — But the Homeless Crisis? Still Stuck in Neutral 

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

    somc 2

    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

    No Kings

    Scioto Dems Snort at “Well-Funded” No Kings Protest Claim

    Cathy Coleman

    Cathy Coleman Still Fighting: Family Shuts Down Hospice Rumors, Says Recovery Still Underway

    County May Tap Opioid Settlement Funds to Finish MARCS Tower Project 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Praise God!’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Remarkable Progress After Harrowing Weeks

    Cathy Coleman

    Cautious Hope and Harsh Realities: New Details Emerge on Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Condition 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel This Week’s Meeting 

    Robert Horton

    Sudden Twist: Horton Court Dates Scrapped Ahead of Trial 

  • Feel Good
    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

    How Bowling Can Improve Your Mental Health

  • Obituaries

    Sophia and Olivia Boggs

    Andrea Gail Walters 43 of Wheelersburg

    Patricia Ann Bennett

    Patricia Ann Bennett, 85 of Minford

    Brian Richards

    Brian Richards of Upper Twin Creek

    Ann Thomas, 89 of Scottsboro

    Barbara Williams

    Marion Emma Wickersham, 80 of Otway

    Sheila Ann Puckett-Free

    Sheila Ann Puckett-Free, 50, of Rarden

    Gail Lynn Harris

    Gail Lynn Harris 70 of sciotoville

    Erik Lael Bryant

    Erik Lael Bryant, aged 54 of Wurtland

    Wanda F. Bender

    Wanda F. Bender, 94 of Portsmouth

    David Gershon McFadden, 84 of Wheelersburg

    Leroy Slusher

    Leroy Slusher, 89 of Minford

    Joseph Michael Ober

    Joseph Michael Ober 53 of Oberling

    Helen E. Brown, 89, of McDermott

    Dannette Ann Lowery

    Dannette Ann Lowery, 55 of Mentor, Ohio

    Kathryn Jane Zaayer

    Kathryn Jane Zaayer, 87 of Otway

    Kyle E. Redoutey

    Kyle E. Redoutey, 30

    Myrtle Maxine Carver Boggs

    Myrtle Maxine Carver Boggs, 85 of South Portsmouth

    Patricia Ann Robinson

    Patricia Ann Robinson 73 McDermott

    Barbara Williams

    Shirley Jean Hackworth, 89 of Franklin Furnace,

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Ohio Highways Fuel Human Trafficking, Says FBI Director Kash Patel

Mark Craycraft by Mark Craycraft
2 months ago
in Ohio
FBI Kash Patel Ohio
ShareTweetEmail

Ohio has become a key battleground in the fight against human trafficking, and the reason may surprise some: its interstate highway system. FBI Director Kash Patel recently emphasized that the Ohio network of intersecting highways makes it one of the most active trafficking hubs in the nation. According to Patel, the state’s infrastructure allows traffickers to treat Ohio like a nationwide relay route, making quick and discreet handoffs of victims and illegal goods.

Due to its central location, Ohio is within a one-day drive of nearly half of the U.S. population, making it a strategic launching point for trafficking activity. Major highways like I-70, I-75, I-71, and I-80/90 intersect the state, providing ideal conditions for traffickers to move quickly and avoid detection. In Southern Ohio, the connecting state highways 23, 33, 35, and 52 provide a busy connecting corridor to these interstates as well as easy access to West Virginia and Kentucky. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued repeated warnings about the prevalence of trafficking through rest stops, motels, and truck stops that line these routes.

Kash Patel  has been vocal about Ohio’s role in national trafficking operations. In a widely shared interview, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the state’s roadways serve as a superhighway for traffickers: “Ohio possesses the roadway system where the trafficking is through the roof just because of the interstate.” Patel emphasized the importance of interstate intersections, which enable traffickers to switch drivers and vehicles, making it harder for law enforcement to track victims.

RELATED POSTS

Sophia and Olivia Boggs

Andrea Gail Walters 43 of Wheelersburg

Toddler Hospitalized After Getting Hold of Marijuana Vape 

Please Support This Local Business

Across Ohio, authorities are encountering both drug and human trafficking cases with alarming frequency. Joint law enforcement task forces continue to combat the crisis, but officials stress that public awareness is essential to breaking this cycle.

What Families in Ohio Can Do to Prevent Trafficking

If you’re a parent or grandparent living in Ohio, there are concrete steps you can take to protect your children from becoming victims of human trafficking:

Educate your children.  While many parents still teach “Stranger Danger,” the reality is far more complex — and more dangerous. Most trafficked children are not taken by strangers, but by family members, family friends, or adults already known to them. It’s crucial to teach children that danger doesn’t always come from unfamiliar faces. Help them understand that anyone who tries to manipulate, control, or exploit them — even someone they know — is a threat. Emphasize the importance of setting personal boundaries, recognizing inappropriate behavior, and knowing how to safely say “no” — even to people they’ve been taught to respect.

Stay involved. Know your child’s friends, monitor social media, and keep open lines of communication. Encourage them to use the buddy system and to check in regularly. Familiarize yourself with the adults in their life — coaches, teachers, and mentors.

Know the signs. Trafficking victims may show sudden changes in behavior, avoid family contact, or start hanging out with older, controlling individuals. Watch for unexplained bruises, expensive gifts, or secretive online activity.

Act quickly. If you suspect a child is being lured or groomed, do not wait. Call 911 or report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. If trafficking is suspected, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

In short, don’t assume it can’t happen in your community. With Ohio being a major conduit for trafficking operations, vigilance is not just recommended — it’s necessary.

Bottom Line:
Ohio’s roadways may crisscross the nation, but families can build strong fences of awareness, action, and education. As FBI Director Kash Patel has warned, this isn’t just a federal problem — it’s a local one. And the solution starts at home.

Tags: breakingChildrenEducationFamilyFBIHuman TraffickingLawmissingNationalNewsletterOhio
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/30/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 30, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/29/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 29, 2025
Laura “Mikki” Elliott

Desperate Search Underway for Missing Mom Who Vanished After Leaving Portsmouth Rehab

July 29, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/28/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 28, 2025
Gail Lynn Harris

Gail Lynn Harris 70 of sciotoville

July 30, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.