Quebec woman rescued by Winnipeg police in human trafficking case

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The rescue of an 18-year-old Quebec woman from a Winnipeg residence last week who was a victim of human trafficking highlights the prevalence of the crime across the country, according to the head of an organization that works to raise awareness about trafficking of people and offers support to victims.

“It’s one of those things that it’s so important for people to understand what it is and how it happens,” said Janet Campbell, president and CEO of the Winnipeg-based Joy Smith Foundation, Canada’s leading authority on prevention, intervention and support for human trafficking. for the survivors. “I think people have preconceived ideas that this could happen to someone else’s family or someone else’s loved one.

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“In reality, what we see is this happening to people all over the country and from all backgrounds and circumstances. Therefore, it is something that could happen to anyone and by knowing what it is and how it happens, we can all be empowered to prevent it from happening to others.”

Last Thursday night, Winnipeg police responded to a vacation rental residence to check on the well-being of a woman after receiving information from the Sûreté du Québec that she may be a victim of human trafficking. Patrol officers located the 18-year-old victim and a 24-year-old suspect inside a suite. Officers arrested the suspect without incident, police said Tuesday.

“It’s more common than most people realize and I think this case really highlights the fact that it can happen anywhere and our experience is that these cases develop in communities across our country,” Campbell said. . “It could be happening to anyone’s loved one. It’s something we hope people take the time to get information and inform themselves. “I think everyone can play a role and participate in preventing this from happening to anyone else.”

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The Anti-Exploitation Unit took over the investigation and discovered that the suspect had met the victim at a Montreal bar in early January and had manipulated her into believing they were involved in a romantic relationship.

During March, investigators discovered the suspect transported the victim to four cities in Ontario, moving west and ending in Winnipeg. The victim could not leave hotel rooms or vacation rentals at each location since the suspect had her personal identification and his cell phone. On several occasions, the suspect allegedly physically assaulted the victim to prevent him from leaving, police said.

Investigators discovered that the suspect got the victim to work for him as an escort selling sexual services. The suspect created and posted on social media an ad for the victim offering sexual services. The suspect organized meetings between clients and the victim and charged money for the sexual services provided.

“That’s a pattern we see in many, many of the cases that come to our office,” Campbell said. “Often individuals will have a new relationship and many times it is a romantic relationship and these predators are extremely skilled at manipulating and controlling victims. “The victims we work with are all incredibly intelligent people, but these predators are very skilled at what they do.”

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Last Thursday, the victim managed to contact a friend in Quebec who asked for police help. After receiving information from the SQ and at his request, the Winnipeg Police Service began an investigation and located the victim and suspect.

A 24-year-old Calgary man has been charged with human trafficking, recruiting a person to provide sexual services and obtaining material benefits from those services, advertising sexual services, forcible confinement and assault. He was taken into custody.

The victim received short-term support while in the company of investigators and, with the help of the SQ and community partners in Winnipeg, was brought back to her home province into the care of family members.

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