Six people have been arrested and charged as the result of a province-wide investigation into human trafficking.
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Six Nations Police were among 20 policing agencies involved in the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-Led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS) that launched Project Uptown in October 2022 after receiving information about suspected human trafficking.
The accused – four from Brampton and two from unknown places of residence – are facing a total of 81 charges that include trafficking in persons; trafficking of a person under the age of 18; procuring; advertising sexual services; material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons; making child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Five victims were identified and have been referred to dedicated victim services to ensure they receive continued support. Three of the victims were underage at some point during the time they were trafficked, police said.
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“Notably, during the investigation, investigators discovered a female victim had been trafficked throughout Ontario by eight separate male parties since 2014,” said Andrew Taylor, strategic communications advisor at the Ontario Provincial Police. “Each accused employed different methods of exploitation and has been charged with additional crimes beyond human trafficking.”
A firearm, $1,100 in Canadian currency, and more than 30 grams of various illicit substances were also seized.
Partner agencies supporting the investigation include police services from Anishinabek, Barrie, Durham Region, Greater Sudbury, Halton Region, Peel Region, Hamilton, Niagara, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, York Region, Six Nations, Akwesasne, London, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, Treaty Three, Windsor, and the OPP.
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The OPP Victim-Centred Approach Team, OPP Digital Forensics, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada assisted in the investigation, while North Simcoe Victim Services and Sudbury and Area Victim Services provided support and education for victims.
“Project Uptown’s success underscores the vital importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community partners in combating the heinous crime of human trafficking,” said Det. Insp. Mike Thurlow, OPP IJFS Lead. “This investigation demonstrates that by working together, we can disrupt these criminal activities and provide support to the victims.”
If you or someone you know is being trafficked, call your local police.
The Canadian Center to End Human Trafficking has resources available for victims and survivors of human trafficking at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca and a national hotline is available at 1-833-900-1010.
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