Halifax police charge 4 with human trafficking after teen robbed

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.

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

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

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

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1:55 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:

• 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

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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.