As part of a national, coordinated investigation into human trafficking, Halton and Hamilton police have charged seven Hamilton men with participating in a human trafficking operation.

Halton police say they also rescued a victim.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Northern Spotlight" was coordinated in Ontario by the OPP and culminated in 25 people being charged with human trafficking offences, including seven from Hamilton.

A 24-year-old man faces three charges related to procuring a person to provide sexual services, advertising and benefiting from sexual services. The other six were caught up in "John sweeps" of clients of sex workers, and face charges of communicating to obtain sexual services.

Halton and Hamilton police were among 36 forces in Ontario, 53 services nationwide, to speak with people "suspected of partaking in the sex trade, potentially against their will." In a six-day period, police in Ontario charged 25 people with 67 offences, according to a press release.

Police across Ontario also rescued 16 people who'd been working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will. One of those was rescued by Halton police.