MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott signed two bills into law this week that crack down on people who traffic in human beings.
There are currently 27 million people worldwide that are victimized, and Florida has the third-most number of individuals trafficked than any other state in the nation.
In Miami Beach, police say there's been a huge increase in human trafficking, and the young girls are often hooked on drugs and then lured into prostitution.
"It's overwhelming how many victims we do have," said Det. Arley Flaherty of the Miami Beach Police Dept. "And it's awesome, to say the least, when all the leaders are actually doing something to get girls off the streets."
An organization called Touching Miami with Love offers support and counseling to victims of human trafficking and other young people in Overtown. Scott and Lt. Gov Carlos Lopez-Cantera visited the organization Thursday to thank those working to help trafficking victims and to promote the new legislation.
"This year we can make $3 million of your tax dollars for safe houses and rehabilitation services to help protect children who have been victimized by human trafficking," said Scott.