A joint police effort involving Greater Sudbury Police Service has led to the arrest of a 37-year-old Scarborough man in connection with a major human trafficking and child sexual abuse case, said a news release from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Wednesday morning.
Police said the arrest is part of an investigation named Project Shrewsbury that began in August when police services in Sudbury and Kingston received information that a man was suspected of transporting two young females from their areas for the purpose of sex trafficking, said the release.
In an OPP video included with the release, A/Det.Insp. Addison Hunter said the two young people are safe and receiving support services, but police believe there are more victims related to this case.
Because of the element of human trafficking, the investigation was coordinated through OPP-led Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS). Peel Regional Police became involved when it was identified that the offences against the two people took place in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
It was on Nov. 20 that OPP officers arrested the Scarborough man and filed numerous criminal charges:
- Assault Causing Bodily Harm, as per section 267(c)
- Advertising Sexual Services, as per section 286.4
- Procuring under 18 years, as per section 286.3(2)
- Material Benefit Resulting from Trafficking in Persons, as per section 279.02(2)
- Material Benefit from Sexual Services Received from Person under 18 years, as per section 286.2(2)
- Traffic in Persons under 18 years of age, as per section 279.011
- Disobey Court Order, as per section 127
- Makes, Prints or Publishes any Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(2)
- Possession of Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(4)
- Imports, Distributes or Sells any Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(3)
- Assault, as per section 266
Police said the suspect continued to be held in custody and is scheduled to appear on Dec. 16 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking has resources available for victims and survivors of human trafficking on their website at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca. A national hotline is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).