Human trafficking victims forced to live in cold basement with no running water, Ontario police say
CTV
Two individuals from Simcoe County face charges in connection with a human trafficking investigation following police searches at locations in Simcoe County and the Greater Toronto Area last week.
Four Ontario residents are facing charges linked to a human trafficking investigation where police allege the victims were forced to pay for their own accommodations in an accused's basement.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say three victims were lured with the promise of a good-paying job and work permits, which police learned about after searches at locations in Simcoe County and the Greater Toronto Area last week.
Project Foxtrot was launched in mid-February after police say officers received information of suspected labour trafficking involving exploiting foreign nationals from Mexico.
Police say the victims were hired through a subcontractor to work at various recycling facilities in Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Red Deer in Alberta, and Levis in Quebec.
The facilities were not aware the workers were victims of human trafficking and have been cooperating with the investigation, police say.
The victims, three men between 27 and 42 years old, were housed in one of the accused's basements in Tottenham, Ont., which police say was cold and had no running water. They added the men were expected to sleep on an air mattress they had to purchase themselves.
OPP says the three men feared they couldn't leave and were coerced to stay and allege the accommodations were paid for out of the victims' wages, which was less than promised.
