Los Angeles is known as the city of dreams.

The most populous city in California, Los Angeles is surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, beautiful beaches belonging to the Pacific Ocean and desert.

It is the home of countless celebrities - and even more who hope to become celebrities. It is the land of hope.

But Los Angeles is also one of the largest sites of human sex trafficking in the United States.

If you were to drive down Figueroa Street at night, you’d see women on the sidewalks in bikinis, high heels and short dresses, even in the depths of winter. You’d also see cars parked nearby. Inside are their pimps, keeping a close eye on the women who work for them.

If you asked any of those pimps, they’d tell you that those women choose to work for them.

But for some of these women, is it really a choice?

CREDITS

Guest: Mariana Van Zeller the host of Trafficked

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

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The Ugly Business Of Illicit Sex In America