The Barrie Police Human Trafficking unit has arrested and charged three men with a number of human trafficking-related charges, after a victim came forward in September to report that she had been forced to work in the sex trade.
Detectives from the Service’s Human Trafficking Unit were assisted throughout this complex investigation by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence – Led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS). The support of the IJFS was critical in ensuring that this investigation resulted in the arrest of these three suspects.
The BPS Technological Crime Unit was also a vital support, after a number of cell phones were seized as evidence.
A 24-year-old Barrie man and a 24-year-old Toronto man are each charged with:
- Human Trafficking
- Financial/Material Benefit/Trafficking Person over 18
- Procuring/recruit person to provide sexual services for consideration
- Advertising another person’s sexual services
- Material Benefit from sexual services
A 34-year-old Toronto man is charged with:
- Point firearm
- Human Trafficking
- Procuring/recruit person to provide sexual services for consideration
- Possess counterfeit currency
Investigators believe there may be additional victims, and photos of the accused have been included with this release. Anyone who may have been a victim, or who may have additional information, is asked to contact Barrie Police at 705-725-7025 to speak with a member of the Human Trafficking Unit or email at humantrafficking@barriepolice.ca
What should I do if I think someone is a victim of trafficking?
If there is immediate danger or if you suspect someone is being trafficked, call 9-1-1.
You may also call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a confidential, multilingual service, operating 24/7 to connect victims and survivors with social services, law enforcement, and emergency services, as well as receive tips from the public. The hotline uses a victim-centered approach when connecting human trafficking victims and survivors with local emergency, transition, and/or long-term supports and services across the country, as well as connecting callers to law enforcement, where appropriate.
