Illinois has some of the nation’s toughest laws combating human trafficking.

That’s according to a rating released Tuesday by anti-trafficking group Polaris Project.

The group credits Illinois for criminalizing both sex and labor trafficking, and for setting up victim assistance programs.

But experts still say the illegal trade happens throughout the state.

“Human trafficking exists everywhere, it just looks differently and sometimes it’s a little bit harder to spot,” said Lynne Johnson, Policy and Advocacy Director at the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation.

Johnson says it’s hard to pin down exact numbers, because of its underground nature.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently signed a law strengthening the state’s ability to prosecute human traffickers.