Children caught in Winnipeg sex-trade sweep

Children as young as 11 years old were removed from sex and drug houses and taken to places of safety during a sweep by Winnipeg police.

The joint effort was conducted by the Winnipeg Police Service vice unit and missing persons unit, in partnership with community social services agencies.

They went to areas of the city frequented by sex trade workers and more than 30 addresses were checked as part of the sweep, codenamed Project Return.

Three sex trade workers were arrested and a number of young people involved in the sex trade were identified, police said Friday.

Police who are familiar with most of the sex trade workers in the city also found eight new girls working the streets that they weren't aware of.

Det. Sgt. Shaunna Neufeld said the girls involved in prostitution are getting younger and younger.

"You know, there's kids just as young as 11 or 12 doing prostitution, involved in prostitution. It's horrible. It's horrific."

They intend to do at least two more sweeps of the city this year looking for missing youths who may be involved in the sex trade.