Halton Regional Police have laid charges against two Burlington men in connection with an alleged case of human trafficking.
On Wednesday, a citizen told police about a 17-year-old woman who had just escaped from a Burlington residence.
She told police that in early November, she met two men who "lured and coerced her" into becoming an exotic dancer, according to a news release issued Friday.
They promised her "financial gains," provided her with fake identification and got her a job in a Mississauga strip joint.
"After dancing on two occasions, the victim attempted to leave the environment but was assaulted as a result," said a news release issued Friday.
"The victim was forced to continue dancing at the Mississauga strip club and was forced to turn over all of her earnings to the suspects."
The young woman was virtually held prisoner as the suspects controlled her movements at the Burlington residence and transport her back and forth to the strip club, police allege.
"They also attempted to get the victim to participate in acts of prostitution," they claimed.
The teen escaped in the early hours of Wednesday.
On Thursday, police carried out a search of a townhouse residence at 5427 Lakeshore Road in Burlington.
They arrested two males and one female. They also seized $3,870 in cash and three grams of marijuana.
Police claim the residence and suspects are associated with a local street gang known as "North Preston's Finest."
