The Escarpment

A former contract operative for the U.S. government is recalled to service for a hostage-rescue operation. The hostage, a long-lost friend of the former operative, has been taken captive in a Central American country and transported to a remote jungle encampment in South America. The guerrillas, allied with a small narcotrafficking cartel, use the hostage to bargain for release of bank accounts seized as part of a counter money-laundering program. The search-and-rescue operation brings together personnel from three countries and a joint-operations group composed of military and intelligence units. The operation also brings together old friends who have not seen each other in 20 years.

Although this story is fictional, the setting is consistent with real-world events happening in Colombia during the story's time frame. Every day of every year, similar events are in play in many countries around the world. Illicit trafficking is a worldwide problem without physical boundaries involving many entities from animals to diamonds to illegal drugs to humans.

Every day, many of us go to work, visit the supermarket, visit a coffee shop, have a nice dinner in a local restaurant, take a well-deserved vacation, and other activities. At the same time, dedicated law-enforcement, military, and national and international agency personnel are working head-down, “in the trenches,” risking their lives to combat illicit trafficking.

How can the average person help? Ensure that you purchase goods that are trafficking-free to the absolute best of your knowledge, based on old-fashioned commonsense.

Perhaps the most persistent, evil form of trafficking is human trafficking. Boys, girls, and women are the primary targets. Fear is not a solution. Caution and commonsense are important components in combating kidnapping and human trafficking.