Woman, 18, and female youth charged with sex trafficking local girl

An 18-year-old Kitchenerwoman and a female youth face several charges for allegedly forcing another young girl from Waterloo region to perform sex acts on men.

• How a girl living in a Guelph group home ended up in a sex trafficking ring
• Ending human trafficking in Ontario needs more commitment, MPP urges
• 'Hotel of youth': How an Ontario hotel ad campaign tackles sex trafficking

Police began an investigation into alleged human trafficking on Aug. 6. They said the girl was taken to locations in Kitchener and London where she was forced to meet men she didn't know.

On Aug. 14, an 18-year-old woman was arrested. A female youth was arrested on Aug. 15.

Both have been charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, advertising sexual services, assault, uttering threats to cause bodily harm, procuring, trafficking of a person under the age of 18 and material benefit from trafficking of a person under 18 years.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. They were unable to provide the ages of the victim or the youth charged.

More news from CBC Kitchener-Waterloo

• What to look for and stay safe if a tornado is coming
• West Nile virus season could be Ontario's worst in 5 years
• Ontario surgery wait times online comparison shows wide variance