ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WOWO): As January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, along with other human trafficking prevention advocates, joined together in Fort Wayne on Thursday to talk about efforts being taken in northeast Indiana to reduce human trafficking and sexual exploitation crimes.

“Our society is far too tolerant of the commercial sex industry, and we are paying the price,” Zoeller said. “Human trafficking and sexual exploitation crimes continue to grow, and a terrifying number of victims are children. I remain committed to ensuring Indiana has the toughest laws against human trafficking and the best network to provide support for victims.”

Currently, human trafficking is tied as the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world, and the FBI estimates that nearly 300,000 American youths are at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.