The author investigates the process of moving women and children, both voluntarily and involuntarily, across national borders as part of prostitution enterprises. The author notes the scope of the problem in Europe and the trend of the increased use of children and Eastern European nationals in such human trafficking. Recruitment methods, economic pressures that encourage recruitment, methods of control post-recruitment, and the organized crime involvement in the practices are discussed. Case studies are presented. International law responses to the problem are discussed and the existing conventions are contrasted with the more stringent legal standards applied to illicit monetary trafficking (money laundering). The profit motive inherent in the practice is used to argue that this trafficking is a financial crime. Discussions of the prosecution of the underlying financial crimes included in human trafficking for prostitution enterprises as a method of controlling or curtailing the practice are presented, specifically including money laundering charges and civil forfeiture proceedings. 119 notes