Three missing Quebec girls have been found in a Richmond Hill home, and police have charged a man and a teenage boy for allegedly trafficking them.
York Regional Police said officers received information on Tuesday that the missing girls may be in the area and that they were maybe being sexually exploited.
Within a few hours, police identified and attended a residence of interest in Richmond Hill.
”Shortly after arriving, two female youths were seen leaving the residence with an adult male in a vehicle,” police said in a news release on Friday.
Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the man.
Police said they then entered the home “under exigent circumstances” and located the third missing girl along with a 17-year-old boy who was subsequently taken into custody.
The adult suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Shaikh Sabahat from Toronto. The teenage suspect cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Both have been charged with three counts of exercising control, direction or influence under 18, three counts of householder permitting sexual activity and one count of failure to comply with an undertaking.
Police released the image of Sabahat as they believe there may be more victims.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6800 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).