Toronto police have arrested eight people and are looking for four others after a year-long probe into a prostitution ring run by a local street gang.

Members of the Galloway Boys gang used physical violence, threats and other forms of coercion to force a group of teenage girls into the sex trade, police said in a news conference Friday morning.

Up to 10 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 were trafficked, police said, with all the proceeds going back to the gang.

Police alleged that the girls worked as prostitutes out of various hotels and motels in the City of Toronto, Durham region, Peel region and Montreal.

The arrests were made during the execution of 11 search warrants on Thursday morning as part of "Project Dove," a joint project between the Peel Regional Police, Durham Regional Police and Toronto Police Service.

An undisclosed amount of money and a vehicle were also seized during the raids in the area of Morningside and Lawrence avenues.

Police arrested and charged Shanicka Providence, 18, Alexandra Abdellatif Alia, 25, Anthony Talbert, 21, Tchello Whyte, 25, Markus Cole, 20, and three 17-year-old offenders who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The group of eight face a combined 44 human-trafficking-related charges, including sexual assault, trafficking of a person under 18, procuring to become a prostitute and possession of child pornography.

Police are still looking for Darren Letts, 22, Jason Bartley, 19, Brian MacKenzie, 22, and Kamille Fraser, 21, who will face similar charges when arrested.

Police looking for other victims

Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins told reporters she would not reveal the exact number of victims, but that police believe there are "many more" than the number they currently know about.

"It takes a lot of courage for a victim to come forward," Beaven-Desjardins said.

"They are entrenched in this kind of lifestyle and for them to actually come out and speak with us it is very, very difficult. For that reason, we are appealing to the public for their assistance as we believe there are further victims."

The Galloway Boys are known to operate in the area of Galloway Road and Danzig Street.