Colorado is confronting an enduring surge in human trafficking cases, with preliminary 2025 data suggesting the state may yet exceed previous records even as law enforcement works to keep pace with evolving criminal patterns.
The persistent rise reflects broader national trends and highlights ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable populations, particularly minors.
Preliminary figures from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) show 110 human trafficking crimes in 2025, though the agency notes that final totals could increase due to a 30-day data-entry lag.
If confirmed, this would surpass the 107 cases recorded in 2023, the state’s highest annual count to date.
Colorado remains among the states with the highest reported human trafficking rates in the nation, according to Commonsense Institute Colorado.
In 2023, national crime data placed Colorado in the top 10 for both total human trafficking incidents and incidents per 100,000 residents, alongside larger states such as Texas, Georgia, and Nevada.
That year was part of a nationwide uptick in trafficking reports that have climbed substantially since 2019, suggesting Colorado’s experience reflects broader patterns seen across the United States.
The FBI’s report for 2024 shows Colorado ranked 13th nationally in reported human trafficking offenses, with 88 incidents—the second-highest total on record for the state.
Its per-capita rate of 1.48 offenses per 100,000 residents was also among the nation’s highest.
One reason for the increase, analysts say, may be improved law enforcement recognition and reporting.
Mitch Morrissey, a former Denver district attorney and criminal justice fellow with the Common Sense Institute, said authorities have become better at identifying trafficking that might once have been categorized differently.
“An investigator can go online in a chat room posing as a young female and be propositioned by an adult male within minutes,” he told The Center Square.
Most trafficking offenses in Colorado involve commercial sex.
In 2025, 79 percent of the preliminary trafficking crimes reported to the CBI were for commercial sex purposes, with the rest attributed to involuntary labor.
Historical state data stretching back to 2008 shows that minors have consistently borne the brunt of these crimes, accounting for roughly 64 percent of victims annually.
In 2025 alone, 48 of the victims were under the age of 18.
Human trafficking in the state is geographically concentrated.
Adams County reported the highest number of cases in 2025, with 37 incidents, followed by El Paso and Denver counties, each accounting for around 16 percent of the statewide total.
Morrissey noted that Denver’s location at the intersection of Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 creates a distribution hub that traffickers exploit.
Agents with the CBI employ a multi-pronged approach to combating these crimes, including participation in large-scale investigations in metro areas, assistance to smaller jurisdictions, victim recovery operations, and community outreach to educate law enforcement on identifying trafficking indicators.
These efforts aim to both disrupt criminal activity and increase victim support.
While the rising numbers are concerning, authorities emphasize some of the increase reflects better detection and reporting rather than only an absolute rise in trafficking activity.
Differences between FBI and CBI datasets—typically a few cases each year—reflect reporting timing and methodology.
As the data continues to be finalized for 2025, the state’s human trafficking figures could emerge as the highest in Colorado’s modern record.
Officials say sustained vigilance, enhanced training, and coordinated enforcement efforts remain key to stemming the trend and protecting at-risk populations.
