This story was originally produced by the Concord Monitor. NHPR is republishing it in partnership with the Granite State News Collaborative .

Across the state, authorities are cracking down on massage businesses that operate as fronts for human trafficking. But as soon as one illicit operation is shut down, another quietly opens its doors , often in plain sight, draining enforcement agencies of time and resources.

Part of the problem is that while massage therapists are licensed, the businesses themselves are not.

State Rep. Charles Foote of Derry is aiming to change that. He has proposed legislation that would require massage businesses to obtain a license, a move he hopes will give towns more leverage.

“I figured while the iron was hot, I could try to come up with new

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