Man arrested in connection with alleged human trafficking of minor in Halton

Read The Original Article Here | By: IJM

A Toronto man faces multiple charges related to human trafficking following an investigation by police services in Toronto and Halton.

The investigation, initiated in June, included search warrants being executed at multiple locations in Toronto and one in Halton. Const. Steve Elms, Halton police media relations officer, said the victim was trafficked in Halton's hotel establishments along highways QEW and 401.

Elms said, “Human trafficking knows no jurisdictional boundaries and involves the movement and transport of victims across the province and country. The main transportation corridors of the QEW and 401 make the region of Halton and like regions across southern Ontario susceptible for this abhorrent crime.”

"Human trafficking investigations often involve the close collaboration of police services across the GTA.”

A 29-year-old from Etobicoke faces the following charges:

• Trafficking in persons

• Material benefit from trafficking in persons (two counts)

• Withhold or destroy documents

• Material benefit resulting from sexual services

• Advertise sexual services

• Procuring

• Trafficking of a person under 18

• Material benefit from sexual services provided by person under 18

• Procuring person under 18

• Assault

• Utter threat to cause death or bodily harm

• Fail to comply with probation order (two counts)

The suspect has been held in custody pending a bail hearing today. The charges have not been proven in court.

Police believe there are additional victims regarding this investigation and are asking anyone who has encountered the suspect, or has information, to contact the Human Trafficking Unit at 905-825-4747, ext. 4674.