13 arrested in breakup of NJ human trafficking ring

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]A human trafficking ring based in South Jersey is now busted. Police say they saved 15 victims. NBC 10's Lena Tellett joins us live now with details on the operation. Lena? Yeah, Fred and Jackie, it's so disturbing that this is happening in our backyard. This trafficking ring operated across the state of New Jersey. A total of 13 people are now behind bars. The ring leaders, Shallaby Hicks from Pennsauken and Nathaniel Clay of Mount Laurel.

[00:00:27]Prosecutors say the other suspects operated in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The state attorney general says the victims were forced into sex acts in exchange for food and housing.

[00:00:41]a search warrant at a Pennsauken hotel last weekend and arrested the ring leader. After that, they went to multiple homes and hotels where they found 15 victims.

[00:00:53]The human trafficking operation made use of websites such as skipthegames.com and megapersonals.eu.

[00:01:01]In many cases, Hicks and Clay forced the victims to post advertisements for themselves to sell their bodies as if they were selling a car.

[00:01:11]And just this week, NBC 10 gave you an exclusive look at how New Jersey is planning to combat human trafficking during the World Cup. There will be a 50-member task force working to identify traffickers, solicitors, and victims.

[00:01:26]New Jersey State Police and the FBI will launch a public awareness campaign specifically around hotels, motels, and rest stops. And the people in custody in this case now face a list of charges including racketeering, conspiracy, human trafficking, and drug charges. NBC 10's Sheena Robinson went to the hotels named in these crimes and talked to one operator. Hear what they have to say coming up at 5:00. Back to you.