Anthony Steen, former special envoy on modern slavery to the UK Home Secretary, says trafficking victims will appear to be normal people and may have travelled to Jersey of their own accord.
He added that the ‘trafficking’ often starts once the victim is across the border.
It comes after the police revealed to the JEP that they had launched a fresh investigation – codenamed Operation Sphinx – alongside their partners which was looking into whether vulnerable people may be being trafficked to the Island for various reasons, including forced labour arrangements.
A separate police operation, known as Operation Phoenix, has been ongoing since last year and is working to identify women who may be being trafficked to the Island to work in a hidden sex trade.
Today Mr Steen says he would be shocked if some form of trafficking was not happening Jersey as affluent communities tend to be hotspots for the crime, which experts suggest is worth around £180 billion a year globally.
‘What is seen as forced labour in Britain may not be seen as forced labour in somewhere like India.
‘It is people who are brought over under false terms of employment.
‘I remember a case in Scotland where a man had travelled from Europe to work picking parsnips for £15,000 a year.
‘He got paid £15,000 a year but was made to stay in accommodation that cost him £14,000 a year.
‘They build up debt and then they are trapped,’ said Mr Steen, who commended Jersey police for taking the issue seriously as he did not believe forces in the UK were.
‘I would be surprised if there was not trafficking in Jersey.
‘Where there is a demand for it, victims will pop up.
‘The richer the state the more likely there is to be a problem.
‘Jersey is likely to have some form of slavery but you do not see them because modern-day trafficking and slavery is hidden and underground.’
Mark Cockerham, director of law enforcement for Customs, said they were working with the police on the operation but the force were leading it.
