On Thursday October 21st, Liberal Police Departments interdiction officer Travis Burgess stopped a minivan traveling west on Highway 54 in Liberal. During the traffic stop, the officer developed reasonable suspicion of additional criminal activity. The subsequent investigation revealed fourteen passengers were being smuggled into the United States by a criminal organization. Some of these individuals were stacked on top of each other in the trunk. A 23 year old male has been arrested in connection with this incident. An affidavit has been to the Seward County Attorney’s Office requesting a charge of Human Trafficking.
The Liberal Police Department was assisted by the Seward County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Department of Children and Families, the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, and Stepping Stone Shelter.
