Advocates say sex trafficking happens everywhere in Minnesota, not just cities

Advocates say a high-profile case involving an assistant Anoka County attorney is drawing new attention to how widespread sex trafficking is across Minnesota.

RELATED: County attorney: More victims likely in sprawling sex trafficking scheme

Local advocacy groups told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the full number of cases in Minnesota is hard to measure because some survivors never call a hotline or realize help is available. One of those groups said it helped 400 survivors last year.

Advocates said the problem is more common and affects more places than many people think.

“It happens everywhere, Apple Valley, Minneapolis, Duluth,” said Heidi Klug with Breaking Free, a Twin Cities advocacy group.

Klug said trafficking is prev...