Canada deports members of human trafficking ring

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney addresses the public about the fight against human trafficking. Photo courtesy of Blaney’s official Facebook page.

HAMILTON, Ontario — Twenty members of a Hungarian human trafficking ring that brought people to Canada from eastern Europe have been deported.

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said Tuesday the ring’s victims were forced to work illegally, live in deplorable conditions without adequate food and were intimidated or attacked repeatedly.

Police previously said the victims were mostly poor Hungarians who were duped into coming to Canada and forced to work for free in a case of “modern-day slavery.

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Blaney says 22 members of the Domotor-Kolompar ring have been convicted of human trafficking charges, and all but two have been deported to Hungary.

Police previously said that once the Hungarian workers arrived, they were forced to file phony claims for refugee status and social assistance, with traffickers pocketing the money.