Human Trafficking Is Hiding in Plain Sight in Financial Systems

Neil Giles delivers a sobering message: human trafficking is thriving, in part, because financial institutions aren’t equipped—or willing—to detect it.

Despite generating an estimated $500 billion annually, most of this money passes undetected through financial systems due to siloed communication, rigid compliance protocols, and outdated perceptions of risk. Giles argues that true change will only happen when institutions shift from a defensive, box-ticking posture to a proactive, intelligence-driven mindset.

The most controversial claim? That financial institutions must take on more risk to actually manage it. Giles challenges the “we’re doing enough” mindset and urges collaboration with NGOs to unlock real intelligence, automate red-flag detection, and empower analysts with purpose, not just compliance checklists.

The uncomfortable truth is that traffickers rely on institutional complacency. The real risk is doing nothing.