A massive investigation into human trafficking has proven it is a problem that can occur anywhere.
Forty-five police services across Ontario, in partnership with the RCMP, took part in Operation Northern Spotlight, which, as police revealed Wednesday, resulted in 15 people being charged and seven victims being identified.
The victims were “recovered” by police services in Peel, Waterloo, Ottawa and Niagara, according to an OPP press release.
“Ontario is very busy with human trafficking compared to other provinces,” said Staff Sgt. Coyer Yateman of the OPP’s Anti-Human Trafficking Investigations Co-ordination Team.
He noted about two-thirds of human trafficking cases in Canada are in Ontario.
“It’s happening all over Ontario,” he said. “It’s not just a big-city problem.”
While none of the accused or victims identified through Operation Northern Spotlight are from this area, places like York-Simcoe are not immune to the problem.
A Toronto man was charged early last year after the family of a female in the South Simcoe area contacted police with concerns she may be involved in sex trafficking, said South Simcoe Det.-Sgt. Brad Reynolds.
"They had some bad feelings about the person who was dealing with the daughter," he said.
After investigating the situation, they found the man was forcing the woman into sex trafficking, and he was charged with advertising sex services, selling sex for money, and profiting off those sales, he said.
That is the only case of sex trafficking the South Simcoe police have ever handled on its own, Reynolds said, but "I'm not saying it's not here."
A lot of sex trafficking happens at hotels or motels, which South Simcoe does not have, he said.
While the local cases may be lower in comparison to other regions, some perpetrators rent Airbnb accommodations for days or weeks to run their operations, he added.
"It could be happening everywhere."
Two South Simcoe police officers worked with York Region police Oct. 10-11 for Operation Northern Spotlight. It is the second year South Simcoe police have been involved in the initiative, Reynolds said.
The South Simcoe police unit does not have a designated team to investigate human trafficking full time.
During Operation Northern Spotlight, Reynolds, who was not one of the officers who participated, said police went on "specific websites" typically visited by people interested in buying or selling sex, and then they arranged meetups at hotels.
"They're not looking to charge the person involved in the sex trade. They're looking to investigate the people who are maybe forcing people into it," Reynolds said, adding police officers provided resources to try to help victims. "Their first step is to help the person involved in the sex trade."
Other areas around Simcoe County, including Orillia and Oro-Medonte, are also tackling the human trafficking problem.
An Oro-Medonte man was charged last spring after a victim contacted police. In 2015, an Orillia woman was arrested and accused of working with two men to force a 14-year-old girl into prostitution, based out of a Toronto hotel.
Human trafficking can be a difficult area of investigation for police, Yateman said.
“It’s difficult because of the clandestine nature of human trafficking,” he said. “Victims may not self-identify as victims. They may be taught to distrust us.”
The Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe/Muskoka, which has offices in Barrie and Orillia, is well aware of the issue. It assists people up to the age of 24 who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, and that includes victims of human trafficking.
“We do have young people coming into our centre who need support specific to this type of crime,” said Tracey Carter, the centre’s executive director. “Young people are more vulnerable to this crime than many people in this community would believe is possible.”
Two of the victims identified during Operation Northern Spotlight were younger than 18. The 15 people arrested face a combined 45 charges, including forcible confinement, trafficking in persons, assault with a weapon, criminal harassment and uttering threats.
It’s vital that people to know crimes like these can and do occur in cities and towns of all sizes, Carter said.
“This is a horrendous crime and it’s important that all communities recognize this does happen and are prepared to support these young people in moving forward with their lives in the most positive way possible,” she said.
Operation Northern Spotlight took place over seven days.
- With files from Jenni Dunning
