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Police say they’ve laid human trafficking charges against a man after the alleged exploitation of 15 workers in central Ontario.

Provincial police say they began investigating after receiving a tip in November about alleged labour abuses.

They say 15 people – ranging in age from 21 to 54 – were promised work permits, training, housing and a good salary at an Orillia, Ont., subcontracting company.

Police allege that the workers instead received partial or occasionally no payment for their work, were made to live in cramped and dirty conditions and were threatened with arrest, deportation and harm to their famlies if they considered complaining to authorities.

OPP say a 59-year-old man was arrested in the case this month and faces 11 counts of human trafficking and 10 counts of material benefits in trafficking.

Det. Insp. Jane Conway says the investigation is ongoing and more alleged victims are expected to come forward.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

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