An actress from a popular TV series shot in metro Atlanta was involved in helping save 32 underage sex slaves in Colombia.
According to officials, in the U.S., Atlanta is known to be a hub for human trafficking. Laurie Holden, who played Andrea on "The Walking Dead," was involved in a sting operation in South America where 32 girls were rescued and five traffickers were arrested. Holden said the sting was aimed at a notorious trafficker.
Channel 2’s Carol Sbarge sat down with the actress, who talked about her passion for helping children.
“I don’t think you can hold a child who’s been tortured and not be affected,” Holden said.
The operation was orchestrated by a nonprofit organization called Operation Underground Railroad. Tim Ballard, who spent years investigating human trafficking and child porn for the US government started the nonprofit operation to go after traffickers in other countries.
“I couldn’t believe what people would do to children, it’s something you can’t even grasp if you tried,” Ballard said.
Ballard said the organization works with the U.S. embassies in the countries they are in, local governments and police.
Holden said the children that are rescued are fingerprinted, interviewed and given medical exams. If they have a family they are reunited with them. If not, there are state-run rehabilitation centers where they are given psychological counseling.
WSBTV
