Police free 43 from human trafficking operation in Canada

Police freed 43 people from a human trafficking operation in Ontario, Canada, the Ontario Provincial Police said Monday.

The 43 people were brought to Canada with the promise of work visas and permanent residency status.

The victims, aged 20 to 46, were working for a Barrie-based cleaning company and were transported daily to work at hotels and vacation properties in central and eastern Ontario. Workers were charged fees for the transportation and lodging.

The majority male victims paid large sums of money to leave their home countries, but were often left with less than 50 Canadian dollars (about 36 U.S. dollars) a month to live in "squalid conditions" in Barrie and Wasaga Beach of Ontario province.

Police executed 12 warrants on Feb. 5 and rescued the 43 victims. All victims have been offered accommodation and legal employment at a local resort.