By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – 
As nations compete for their share of the global economy, a secretive and illegal commerce flourishes beneath the surface.
Human trafficking is the practice of coercing a person into forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Federal officials say the problem is growing across the country, but few states have laws on the books to deal with it.
In Missouri, lawmakers are considering legislation that would crack down on traffickers. KWMU's Kevin Lavery prepared this report.