Winnipeg police arrest 5 in sex trade crackdown

Five men between the ages of 20 and 50 have been arrested in a Winnipeg police crackdown on the sexual exploitation of youth.

The arrests were made Nov. 3 as part of an investigation called Project Return, but only announced on Monday.

Police checked out 38 addresses for missing youth and took seven at-risk youth into custody, transporting them "to a place of safety."

Another youth was arrested as part of an outstanding warrant.

The five men who were arrested are charged with communicating for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.

One of the men is also facing several drug charges for cocaine.

Project Return was a joint effort between the police service and community partners, including Street Reach Winnipeg, MaMaWi Chi Itata Centre, Child and Family Services All Nations Coordinated Response Network (ANCR), MaryMound Inc. and Manitoba Association for Residential Treatment Resources (MARTR).