Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1YilBUX. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. Tim Ballard’s career with the CIA and Homeland Security may not be what you’d expect. With years of leading rescue efforts to free victims of human trafficking, especially those used as prostitutes, he founded Operation Underground Railroad to liberate captive slaves. Ballard explains the need for his work. “The scope of the problem is vast; there are an estimated 27 million enslaved human beings in the world: more slaves than ever existed during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Many are sex slaves, as sex trafficking represents the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. Many reputable organizations exist to disseminate information about this problem, and others function as aftercare organizations for victims. Very few, if any, dedicate themselves to the pro-active rescue and direct extraction of the victims, and to the capture and prosecution of their captors. Operation Underground Railroad fills this void.” Operation Underground Railroad’s work is already logging success. “In just our first two years, O.U.R. has already rescued over 350 victims of human trafficking,” Ballard reports. “Because of the undercover skills of our operatives, foreign governments often seek out O.U.R. to assist in sting operations against child sex traffickers. We keep the respective U.S. Embassies informed of our activities, and have been fortunate to count on their support and participation in a number of our rescues. Our motto is, ‘We enter through the front door, or we do not go in at all,’ and that formula has worked in countries as diverse as Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, and the United States.” Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1YilBUX. Please consider whether a friend or colleague might benefit from this piece and, if so, share it.
#338: Meet A Guy Who Has Devoted His Life To Freeing Slaves