Human trafficking charges laid in ring that operated locally

Three men from the Greater Toronto Area have been charged by Kingston Police after an investigation into a human trafficking ring that operated in Peterborough and other southern Ontario cities.

Two men from Mississauga, aged 20 and 18, and an 18-yearold Brampton man face multiple charges.

On Sept. 26 the three men brought two women and a girl to a motel in Kingston, police said. A witness at the motel observed the men interacting with the girls and became worried about their welfare, police said.

The witness called police who took the girl to a place of safety to confirm her true age and identity. It was then determined she was a 14-year-old Hamilton girl. The other two were an 18-year-old St. Catharines woman and a 20-yearold Woodstock area woman.

Kingston Police investigators determined the men had recruited the 14-year-old in July with promises of a lavish lifestyle. The 14-year-old and the other two women were taken to various hotels in Peterborough, London, Guelph, Mississauga and Toronto and were prostituted using local ads, police said.

The women and girl were controlled through intimidation and financial dependence, while the men kept the money they earned and only gave them small amounts at a time, police said.

All three men were charged jointly with procuring a minor, two counts of procuring, trafficking a minor, two counts of trafficking persons, advertising sexual services, material benefit trafficking a minor and material benefit trafficking persons.

The 18-year-old Brampton man was also charged with criminal harassment by threatening conduct, kidnapping, sexual assault and sexual interference.

The 18-year-old Mississauga man was also charged with three counts of breach of recognizance.

Kingston Police did not identify the three men who were charged.