GTA is ‘major hub’ for human trafficking Peel police say after 13 victims are rescued
Peel police say they have rescued 13 human trafficking victims through a multi-jurisdictional human trafficking investigation dubbed Project Pacific.'
In a press conference at headquarters in Mississauga Wednesday morning, Peel police also announced the arrest of five people as part of the year-long investigation.
Peel police also announced the seizure of over $48,000 of property and currency.Det. David Laing, with the Specialized Enforcement Bureau - Vice/Human Trafficking division said the investigation started in April 2022 after Peel police received a community complaint regarding an illegal bawdy house operating out of a condominium in Mississauga.
Investigators subsequently identified a criminal network operating multiple illegal bawdy houses in Mississauga.
Members of this criminal network were using the vulnerabilities of the victims to coerce and manipulate them into working and living within these illegal (bawdy houses)," said Laing.
Police say all 13 victims are of Chinese descent and have various immigration statuses; 12 of the 13 were recruited domestically.
On March 27, police executed a residential and vehicle search warrant in Mississauga and two residential search warrants in Milton in Markham resulting in the arrest of two women.
None of those arrested had any other charges outside of the investigation.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich, of the Investigative and Emergency Support Services Command added that the GTA is a major hub for human trafficking."
Human trafficking is something that can happen anywhere to anyone," he said.
Laing said police believe there are additional victims and witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to call crime stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca or call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca