Indiana AG warns sex trafficking ahead of Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The attorney general is sounding an alarm today about the dark side of the Super Bowl. Greg Zoeller says there will be an increase in demand for the illegal commercial sex trade in connection with the Super Bowl and, he says, we ought to expect that some of sex workers who come here are the victims of human trafficking.

The attorney general made opening remarks this morning at a training program for law enforcement, prosecutors and victims’ advocates. He says that human trafficking is a problem that has been ignored until recently. "It's one that is growing, I think, primarily fueled by the same energy that brings drugs to the United States," said Zoeller, "we also see the same pipeline being used to traffic the humans that are part of the sex trade."

Following his remarks Zoeller met with reporters, telling them, "We may look at someone as a pimp but I don't think that quite recognizes that they're holding someone essentially in slavery."

Zoeller says Indiana needs a new law that will make it easier to prosecute people who profit from the sale of sex with minors. He's working with lawmakers to get a new law passed early in the 2012 General Assembly, before the Super Bowl in February.