Human trafficking happening in Windsor-Essex at ‘alarming rate’: We Fight

CTV Windsor: Human trafficking case Windsor woman allegedly tortured in human trafficking case in Winnipeg. Chris Campbell has details.

Officials from a Windsor-Essex organization say it's disgusting to think of how prevalent human trafficking is.

Anti-human trafficking project co-ordinator Amanda Pierce at We-Fight says it's “happening within our community at an alarming rate."

We-Fight provides direct services to survivors of domestic and international human trafficking, where women are forced into sex trafficking, even marriage.

“Right now between three of us, we have between 70 and 80 open cases right now,” adds Pierce. “I would argue that that's just touching the tip of the iceberg."

“I can say 100 per cent of my case load is domestic sex trafficking victims or survivors," says Gillian Golden, a youth and transition worker with We Fight.

Golden says it's a bigger issue than many people just don't know about.

Golden tells CTV News there are four to six new people in Windsor seeking help each month.

“When you come from nothing and you know nothing and you know no one that fear just takes over your life so you'll do whatever you have to do just to get through the day, or through the week or weekend," says Golden.

The staff members at We-Fight are reacting to news that a Windsor woman was allegedly held captive, tortured and forced to work as an escort in Winnipeg.

Over the four months, police say she was tormented physically and psychologically before she escaped to a police station to get help.

Police arrested a 29-year-old Winnipeg man Sept. 2.

Andres Michael Pavao -- who has ties to the Windsor region -- faces a dozen charges including trafficking, assault, forcible confinement, overcome resistance by attempting to choke or suffocate and assault with a weapon.