Police nab 4 for purchasing sexual services

Winnipeg police have arrested four males for purchasing sexual servicesand uncovered dozens of cityhotspots for youth at risk of being sexually exploited.

In a joint effort between police and community organizationsStreetReachand the Winnipeg Outreach Network,investigators arrested four males between the ages of 14 and 52 on Thursday who allegedly paid money for sex.Two vehicles were also seized.

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As part of the investigation, police identified 55 locations commonly visited by at-risk youth andreached outthrough social media to help 16 people involved in the sex trade.

Five at-risk youth were located and placed in safe housing, police said, adding one of themwho was missing was arrested for probation violation.

"The Winnipeg Police Service remains committed to issues surrounding our missing youth and those atrisk of sexual exploitation in the community," police said in a statement.