A total of nine suspects have been charged in an investigation into the alleged human trafficking and sexual exploitation of at least a dozen people, police west of Toronto said Tuesday.
Halton regional police said they started investigating after a woman came forward with allegations in September of last year.
Supt. Dave Costantini said the force worked with other police services including those in Niagara, Hamilton, Guelph, Waterloo, Peel and Toronto, along with Ontario Provincial Police.
A Halton Regional Police vehicle is shown in Oakville, Ont., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Halton Regional police say they have arrested a woman alleged to have thrown an unknown chemical on her family member and stolen her phone last week in Milton, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan
Officers carried out searches at 10 homes, including five in Halton region, four in Peel region and one in Toronto, on July 13, he said.
Investigators seized a Lamborghini car, two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, about $450,000 worth of jewelry and about $30,000 in Canadian and U.S. currency, along with a quantity of drugs, Costantini said.
“We believe that some of the accused in this case utilized coercion, deception, manipulation, and psychological harm to maintain control, direction, or influence over the victims,” he said in news conference in Oakville, Ont.
“Behind every exploitation investigation or human trafficking investigation, there’s a person that has had their trust, freedom, and dignity taken away from them, and survivors are not responsible for or defined by the circumstances that they’ve had to endure.”
Police believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward, he added.
“Unfortunately, we believe that 12 victims is just the tip of the iceberg in this case,” Costantini said.
A total of nine people are charged with 85 offences between them, including trafficking in persons, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, receiving material benefit for trafficking in persons, living off the avails of prostitution, and advertised sexual services.
Halton police deputy chief Jeff Hill said human trafficking is a “soul-destroying crime” that strips people — particularly women and girls — of their humanity, safety and agency.
“Survivors are often conned into believing they are cared for by the traffickers, but in reality they are being callously and strategically manipulated so that predators can financially gain from their trauma,” he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2026.