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Halifax police charge 4 with human trafficking after teen robbed

Halifax Regional Police say that as a result of a robbery call four people now face multiple charges including human trafficking. Alexa MacLean/ Global News

Halifax Regional Police have laid multiple charges against four people after a robbery call resulted in officers determining that a 16-year-old girl had been influenced for the purpose of prostitution.

According to police, shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, police received a call about a robbery on Lakecrest Drive in Dartmouth involving a firearm. The 16-year-old female victim was reportedly robbed of a sum of money and some personal items.

The suspects reportedly fled in a van and were taken into custody without incident in Bedford. No one was injured during the robbery and the parties were known to each other.

READ MORE: Halifax police charge 18-year-old in wake of alleged early morning crime spree

Police say an airsoft rifle was located in the van and officers held three men and another 16-year-old girl for questioning.

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Police say their investigation showed that the robbery victim had been directed and influenced for the purpose of prostitution.

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Joshua Osborn Mabie, 19, of Dartmouth will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:

  • Human trafficking of a person under the age of 18
  • Material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of 18
  • Procuring
  • Advertising sexual services
  • Robbery
  • Using an imitation firearm in a commission of an offence
  • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
  • Three counts of breach of a probation order

Brandon David Smith, 30, of Lower Sackville will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:

  • Human trafficking of a person under the age of 18
  • Material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of 18
  • Two counts of breach of probation

WATCH: Human trafficking arrests made in Nova Scotia

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Human trafficking arrests made in Nova Scotia

Dante Keenan, 20, Longard of Dartmouth will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face the following charges:

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  • Robbery
  • Two charges of breach of a recognizance
  • Breach of a probation order

A 16-year-old female youth, whose name cannot be published because she is underage, from Halifax will appear in Halifax Provincial Court today to face the following charges:

  • Robbery
  • Possession of property obtained by crime less than $5000
  • Breach of a recognizance
  • Two counts of breach of a sentence order
  • Breach of a probation order

READ MORE: Halifax police weigh in on crowd safety in wake of Las Vegas shooting

According to police, human trafficking is an “offence that involves controlling, forcing, intimidating or deceiving a person in order to exploit them through various forms of sexual exploitation or forced labour.”

Halifax police are reminding citizens that human trafficking can occur in a city of any size and that Halifax is not immune. Anyone with information about human trafficking is urged to contact police.

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