Peel police arrest 4 men, seek 2 others in connection with 'pimping' of teenage girl

Peel police have arrested four men and are looking for two others in connection with a human trafficking investigation involving a 16-year-old girl.

On January 2nd, police say five men allegedly lured the girl into the sex trade. She allegedly worked as an escort for a six-week period under the direct control of the men who took turns "pimping" her at various locations in and around Peel Region.

Police say four of those five men were arrested and charged with human trafficking related offences after the girl reported the situation to investigators.

Five months later, on June 26, police say the same girl was deceived into going to a hotel in York Region where she was confronted by three of the men who lured her in January along with a fourth man. The four accused allegedly forced the girl into a vehicle, took her to a Peel police station and told her to tell police her original story was false.

The group reportedly then fled as the girl told police what had happened.

In a release Thursday, police said the following accused face charges related to human trafficking:

- A 19-year-old Mississauga man faces charges including: Trafficking a person under 18, receiving a benefit from trafficking, deriving material benefit from sexual services and advertising sexual services

- An 18-year-old Mississauga man faces charges including: Trafficking a person under 18, receiving a benefit from trafficking, deriving material benefit from sexual services and advertising sexual services. He also faces charges of kidnapping as well as assault

- A 19-year-old Missisasuga man faces charges including: Trafficking a person under 18, receiving a benefit from trafficking, deriving material benefit from sexual services, kidnapping and failure to comply

- A 20-year-old Toronto man faces charges including: Trafficking a person under 18, receiving a benefit from trafficking, deriving material benefit from sexual services and kidnapping.

Members of the police's major drugs and vice bureau are concerned that there may be other victims who have not yet come forward.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Investigators of the Major Drugs and Vice Unit at (905) 453-2121, ext. 3515 or contact police anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).