TORONTO - A man and a woman have been charged with human trafficking after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly forced into the sex trade late last year.
Toronto police say their Human Trafficking Enforcement Team began investigating in November 2018 after the girl escaped from her alleged traffickers with the help of her family.
Police say the girl had been lured into the sex trade by a man who reached out to her and then picked her up from school accompanied by a woman and another unidentified man.
Officers say the girl was forced to take photos of herself in various degrees of undress, which were then posted on Leolist, a website advertising her sexual services.
They say the girl was taken to various motels throughout the city and was allegedly forced to provide sexual services for money against her will.
According to investigators, the man and woman wouldn't allow the girl to leave or to be alone, with the man carrying a firearm at all times and showing it to the victim on multiple occasions.
The girl's phone was also taken away.
They say that on Dec. 11, a man and a woman were arrested west of the city on unrelated charges, after Peel Police pulled over a vehicle that was leaving the area of the Midway Invader Strip Club in Mississauga. They seized various drugs and a .45 calibre handgun.
Ten days later, both were charged in relation to the trafficking investigation.
Patrick Agpoon, 22, and Atrooba Mughal, 19, both from Toronto, each face 16 charges that include trafficking in persons under the age of 18 years by recruiting and material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18.
Both made court appearances on December 21.
Police are still looking for a second man, and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
They're also concerned there may be more victims. In that case, they say they want to ensure everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, whether they plan to press charges or not.
- With files from NEWSTALK1010