Country
Modern slavery in Canada
41 documented cases recorded in Canada, 1998–2011. Locations are deliberately generalized to protect survivors.
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
January 9, 2012, Mr. REID pleaded guilty to Human Trafficking, Possession of a Loaded Firearm and Possession of Firearm While Prohibited. January 13, 2012, Jason REID, appeared before The Honourable Justice Richard Blouin at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket and was sentenced to four years in prison, in addition to the 107 days of pre-trial custody he has already served. He has also been issued a lifetime weapons prohibition and been ordered to provide a mandatory DNA sample.
Golden, BC, Canada
Trafficker promised jobs to men from the Congo as tree planters. Up to seven men lived in a shipping container in remote areas of Golden, BC with no toilet or washroom. They ate expired food and subjected to violence. RCMP are also in investigating the death of one worker on one of the traffickers remote work sites. 57 men weren't paid for work between March and July of last year, and are still waiting for compensation. The company already had a "horrible track record" with WorkSafeBC where there were 20 violations found. NOTE: This case is not being charged with human-trafficking. Further details below.
Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario Canada, including the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, Canada
In February and March 2011, undercover officers contacted 71 potential victims through sex ads and agreed to meet them at seedy local motels. Once there, investigators worked to learn more about them and find out why they were in the sex trade. “Six individuals came forward and we were able to rescue them from the life of human trafficking and set them on a way to getting back into society," said Peel Deputy Chief Dan McDonald.
Aikins Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
38 year old woman befriended the 21 year old aboriginal female victim after she had moved alone to Winnipeg from northern Manitoba. The woman took the victims personal items and identification, confined her, assaulted her and forced her to prostitute herself, withholding all of her earnings.
Vancouver BC, Canada
WaiChi (Michael) Ng, Vancouver. Accused of trafficking 2 Chinese women into sex trade. Was acquitted on trafficking charge, sentenced on prostitution-related charges. Sentenced to 9 months for two counts of falsifying immigration documents and extra 6 months for keeping bawdy house and two counts procuring person to have illicit sexual intercourse.
Hamilton, ON / Niagara, Canada
Most of the alleged victims come from a small town in Hungary called Papa, where it is alleged the accused have recruiters working for them. Once recruited the men are instructed to fly to Canada, claim refugee status and then apply for social assistance through Ontario Works, claimed Sgt. Kevin Serniuk, of the Hamilton-Niagara RCMP immigration and passport section. The men were then made to work on construction sites for free, never seeing a dollar of their social assistance money. They were isolated, fed scraps and lived in the basements of about five Hamilton homes belonging to their captors, one victim alleged. “They didn’t have the opportunity to communicate with a large population here in Hamilton, and you couple that with the fact that once they were in Canada they were never really left alone to mingle with the community . . . so their opportunity to communicate with somebody else was limited,” Serniuk alleged. There was one opportunity to communicate and that was at Ontario Works, were social service claimants must meet with staff on their own, he said. It was at Ontario Works that the first alleged victim told his story last December. This led to further alleged victims – some here for as long as a year, others a day, Serniuk said. at first 10 victims were identified, later 6 more and then yesterday 3 more totaling 19 but there may be more.
Falconridge, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Canada
Eric Jean-Pierre Riendeau was charged on Aug. 9 with living off the avails of prostitution, assault and trafficking in persons.
King Street Fredericton NB Canada, Canada
Local Restaraunt El Burrito Loco using guys from mexico and not paying them proper wages. http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1182324 for the story
Mississauga, Canada, Canada
Imani Nakpangi, 25, was convicted to trafficking two young girls (14 and 15 years of age) for sex at a number of Mississauga hotels. This was a lucrative business for him. In 2 years it is estimated by the courts that he earned over $400,000 from the girls. He kept the girls working by threats and intimidation. He also told the girls that they owed him over $100,000. One of the girls escaped and went to the police after being robbed at gunpoint by a client. He was arrested after a sting operation by the local law enforcement.
Vaughan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Canada
Police charged a Toronto man with human trafficking after a woman was forced to perform sex acts for drug money. Acting on a tip, York Regional Police launched their investigation in December after arresting a man in Vaughan for an unrelated matter. The 28-year-old woman was forced to “do sexual acts in order to obtain some money,” said Det.-Sgt. Henry Deruiter. Investigators also alleged the woman was forced to help a man commit crimes. Investigators were told there are at least a couple of other victims connected to the case. Officers want to find them. “We don’t know where they are, GTA I’d say,” he said. Mark Stewart, 49, faces many charges, including trafficking in persons, assault, and three counts of sexual assault.
West Vancouver, Canada
Mumtaz Ladha Age: 55 Muslim from Tanzania The Public Prosecution Service of Canada on Thursday approved one charge of human trafficking and one charge of human smuggling against Ladha. According to reports, in 2008 Mumtaz Ladha hired a 21-year-old woman from Africa, promising her a job in a hair salon and a work visa. When the woman arrived in Canada, police say, she was made to work in Ladha’s home as a maid unwillingly for 18 hours a day, seven days a week, with no salary. Mumtaz Ladha also allegedly confiscated her passport. In 2009, the woman was able to escape to a woman’s shelter where workers contacted police, prompting the RCMP Border Integrity Program’s Human Trafficking Team to launch an investigation with West Vancouver police. “This is well beyond what anyone would expect are reasonable working conditions,” said RCMP Const. Michael McLaughlin. “She was essentially a prisoner in the home.” He described a life of forced labour where the victim was often not allowed to sleep if anyone else in the house was awake and she was charged with tasks like hand washing underwear and washing visitors’ cars. “She wasn’t even allowed sufficient food. She was only allowed to eat the table scraps of what the rest of the family had eaten,” said McLaughlin. McLaughlin said that Ladha lived with other family members who were likely aware of the girl’s treatment, but that there was not enough evidence to prosecute them. The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant IS presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Suite 5, 4105 4 St NW, Calgary, AB, T2K1A3, Canada
Linh Quy To, 52, has been charged with unlawfully keeping a common bawdy house, trafficking in persons, material benefit from trafficking in persons, conspiracy to commit an indictable offense, possession of property obtained by crime, and living of the avails of prostitution.
downsview, ont, Canada
YES! The 21 year old Haitian victim from Montreal, who had recently emigrated to Canada 8 months ago, was “romantically involved” with her perpetrator for two months before she moved to Toronto into an apartment he had set up for her. They went out for a date after dropping off her 3 year old child with a babysitter he had previously designated (she gave her daughter over to him and he dropped the child off). After dinner, it was at that point that he told her she was going to be a prostitute for him, and if she tried to call the police or try to leave, she wouldn’t see her daughter ever again. After being forced to have sex with up to four men everyday in the apartment for several weeks, the victim attacked her “pimp” one day and in turn was severely beaten by him. He fled after beating her up and she called 911. He was arrested on April 28th, 2009 by the Peel Regional Police and is facing up to 10 charges, including living off the avails of prostitution, procuring illicit sex, assault, forcible confinement, and death threats. He hasn’t however been charged with trafficking which has trafficking experts outraged. The victim has since been freed, yet there are no reports on any counselling, rehabilitation, or care for the victim. The child as of April 30th, 2009 was found and was with Children’s Aid Society.
Mississauga, York area, Canada
The man will be the first person to be charged with human trafficking by York Regional Police after he allegedly forced his so-called girlfriend to strip. The police announced that he will be charged with a long list of charges several charges including trafficking in persons, material benefit, kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault, choking and theft. according to Toronto Sun.
Edmonton, Canada
atlest three victims were found. One form Beijing and two from Fiji, all three had their identifaction papers taken from them and forced to eat, sleep, and work in the same location 24 hours a day. They all had responded to ads for a jod in massage.
St. Albert, Canada
Mei Fang Chen, 33 Xiu Zheng Chen, 32 facing two charges each of human trafficking, living off the avails of prostitutuion, exercising control, director of influence of a person for the purpose of prostitiution, and one each of keeping a common bawdy-house, and possesion of the proceeds of crime over $5000.00. Qui Wang, 41 faces two charges each of living off the avails of prosititution, exercise and control, direction or influence over a person for the purposes of prostitution, and one count of keeping a common bawdy house, possesion of the proceeds of crime over $5000.00 and assault with a weapon causing bodily harm. To appear in court September 21, 2009.
Kingston, Canada
The charges stem from a 9-1-1 call in July, 2009 where Windsor Police Service responded to a report of two persons who were creating a disturbance outside of a residence on Sandwich Street in Windsor. The initial investigation, conducted by Windsor Police, revealed that the victim was a United States citizen. It is alleged that the victims had been brought into Canada by Mark Justice after they met in Battle Creek Michigan. The RCMP Immigration & Passport Section facilitated further responsibility for the investigation, alleging that the man was fraudulently brought into Canada by Mr. Justice, and forced to live at the Sandwich Street residence. The RCMP also determined that Mr. Justice had brought a second US citizen into Canada. Police allege that Mr. Justice brought these individuals into Canada in order to obtain all or a portion of their pensions. The RCMP also determined that two individuals employed at the residence were not legally entitled to work in Canada.
Canada, Canada
Detective Assistant Superintendent Selebatso Mokgosi from Interpol confirmed to the Sunday Standard that a Motswana woman who had been trafficked to work in a Canadian brothel was recently arrested in Canada without work and resident permits. Detective Assistant Superintendent Mokgosi would not disclose details on the case, saying, “It is too early to reveal the identity of the suspect.”
mississauga, ontario, Canada
http://www.thestar.com/article/602988 Mississauga man charged with human trafficking Crime Stoppers Mar 16, 2009 10:13 AM Bob Mitchell Staff Reporter A 25-year-old Mississauga man has been charged with human trafficking in connection with luring two young women to the city on the pretence they would begin modelling careers. Instead, police allege the women aged 17 and 22, were forced into the sex trade and ordered to turn over all their earnings. Peel Police believe the younger of the two was lured from a northern Ontario town through a social networking connection. The young woman believed she would be hired as a model in a music video, but when she arrived in Mississauga she was put to work as an exotic dancer in various strip clubs in Mississauga and Brampton. The second victim had also never worked as a stripper before meeting the accused, police said. But she was allegedly forced to work at various strip clubs for six months. Enoch Johnson, 25, of Mississauga has been charged with human trafficking, receiving material benefit from the crime and exercise control for the purpose of prostitution and living off the avails of prostitution. He remains in custody.
Elmvale, ON, Canada
A Taiwanese woman, known in Canada by three different names, worked for a Filipino recruitment agency. She met the 11 men when they arrived in Toronto. She told them the employer had backed out of the deal (a lie) and they would have to relocate to a different job site. Together with a man pretending to be a lawyer, she confiscated their passports and visas, and they delivered the men to a business man in an abandoned farmhouse north of Toronto. The twice bankrupt "lawyer" denies he received money from the business man for delivering the 11 workers. Both the "lawyer" and the woman had previous arrest warrants in the Philippines for illegal recruitment and fraud. The man seems to have been involved in human trafficking before. A week after the Elmvale release, the business man who kept the 11 men enrolled the "lawyer" to recruit 191 workers for him, but this time the business man did not receive the legal visas (LMO's) The workers, threatened with deportation, by the man who "bought" them. Http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/Article/488074 http://canadaimmigration.typepad.com/canada_immigration/2008/09/08/index.html
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Canada
"Police said today the 18-year-old girl arrived in Hamilton May 28, 2009 and had already been reported missing from a Burlington residence to Halton police. They say she met McCarthy downtown while walking in the core area and he “immediately started to engage her in conversation which turned to the discussion of prostitution and how she could make money for sex,” said Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings. The conversation continued and, eventually, the girl was allegedly instructed by McCarthy to engage in prostitution and told the money she received was to be turned over to him. She “was escorted into a downtown business where she engaged in a sex act for money,” Collings said. Hamilton police located the girl with McCarthy a short time after she left the premises. She was returned to her residence in Burlington." Source for all data (thespec.com): http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/603309
moncton, nb, Canada
A police raid took place around 4:30 am July 7th, 2009. 14 suspects ranging from 15-60 have been arrested with charges varying from drugs, to weapons and prostitution. Court dates to take place in late August 2009.
Edmonton, Canada
Undercover police officer acted as a 19 year old girl whom Juneja attempted to recruit into his brothel Four sex workers testified against Juneja Found guilty of 7 out of 8 charges on April 17, 1009 (two counts of keeping a common bawdy house and three counts of living on the avails of prostitution, two counts related to procuring women to become prostitutes. One count of procuring a woman to become a prostitute was dismissed because there was not enough evidence against Juneja) Juneja's lawyer is applying for a stay relating to that charge on the basis that it involved entrapment. The judge will hear those arguments on May 28. In September, a court upheld Alberta Transportation's decision to suspend Juneja's licence to operate the Alberta Defensive Driving School.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Canada
Police noticed and followed activity of young women in the bawdy house. Their English language skills were weak. Edmonton Police Services were not able to gain many details about the owners / mangers of the massage parlour. A Canada Immigration Officer entered the premises, asked the young women for immigration status. No visas were on them. The girls were arrested.
Montréal, Canada
Feb. 7 2009 Hrudey Youance was arraigned on 12 counts of pimping, three counts of human trafficking and two counts of assault causing bodily harm.
Montreal, Canada
Mark was arrested by Montréal police. In November 2008 we was found guilty of human trafficking and sentenced to two years. He served only a single week in prison after being convicted because he was given a 2 for 1 credit for his one year of pre-trial custody.
Steeles Ave & Bathurst St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
A woman from Eastern Europe stumbled into the police station at Dundas St. W. and University Ave. She said she was a sex slave.
Gatineau, Canada
Emerson, aged 28, was charged in connection with crimes involving several victims between the ages of 15 and 20. Emerson worked with co-accused, Gordon John Kingsbury, who has been charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement and living on the avails of prostitution Emerson has been charged with several charges including living off the avails of an underage prostitute; extortion and exercising control; attempting to procure someone under the age of 18 for prostitution; and procuring someone under 18 for prostitution. She has been charged in both Gatineau and Ottawa. The human trafficking charge is in Gatineau.
Mississauga, Canada
On November 11, 2008, Vilutis arrested in Mississauga. He was charged with human trafficking, exercising control of a prostitute, living off the avails of prostitution, assault, two counts of uttering threats to cause bodily harm or death and possession of a controlled substance.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Canada
Tyrel Henwood is charged with assault, unlawful confinement and uttering threats, procuring a minor, living off the avails of prostitution of a person under the age of 18, compelling a teenager to engage in prostitution and threatening violence, intimidating and coercion. His trial date has been set for April 14-24, 2009 in the Victoria Provincial Court. He has elected to be trial by judge alone. Police recommended that Henwood be charged with trafficking in persons, but as of March 2009, Crown prosecutors had not laid this more serious charge.
Edmonton, Canada
Tonya made a decision to quit cocaine on her own. We are not sure whether the presence of caring friends at church which she attended or simply a growing awareness through the new associations she was making led her to quit. She says she wanted to do what God wanted her to do. She has said that she wants to become an Orthodox Christian. Tonya has fetal alcohol syndrome with some brain damage. He ability to follow through is limited.
Mississauga, Canada
According to Court records, the female victim met Mr. St. Vil while participating in an album cover photo shoot for his employer in Montreal. She and Mr. St. Vil started a relationship shortly after meeting and then moved from Montreal to Mississauga, Ontario, where she started working as an exotic dancer and, later, as a prostitute. Mr. St. Vil was violent toward her and she was too frightened to contact police for three months. During this time, the victim gave $20,000 earned from prostitution in Ontario and the United States to Mr. St. Vil. While visiting Montreal around April 22, 2007, the victim contacted the police and Mr. St. Vil was arrested upon his arrival in the city.
Brampton Ontario, Canada
According to the Court record, the human trafficking victim was 15 and homeless when Nakpangi forced her into prostitution. He received $360, 000 from her. He led a luxurious lifestyle from the money he made from his illegal activities. He is currently in prison.
Osoyoos, BC, Canada
In June 2006 the RCMP and US Border Patrol intercepted 8 female and 2 male Korean nationals attempting to walk across the border into the US. Several of the women indicated during preliminary questioning that they had to pay a debt for their crossing once they reached their destination. Some also mentioned that they were going to work in the US in jobs such as waitressing; however, there was evidence that they were destined to be forced to provide sexual services at massage parlours.
Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Canada
"In 2005 Michael Ng was the first person to be arrested and charged under Canada’s human trafficking laws after two Chinese women escaped from his massage parlour in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and called the police claiming they had been brought from China and forced into prostitution. One of the women testified that she worked from 11:00am to 2:00am in order to meet her financial obligations to Ng. “In one year and five months I [made] him well over $100,000 plus the $50-an-hour he charged customers for a massage”. Ng was cleared of human trafficking, but found guilty of a number of related offences instead, including operating a common bawdy house, helping create false travel documents and procuring a person to have illicit sexual intercourse with another. In April 2008 he was sentenced to 15 months in jail. The Chinese women returned to China at their request, but came back briefly to Canada to assist in Ng’s prosecution." http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/identifying.htm
Scarborough Ontario, Canada
A 22-year old Detroit man, Melando Streety. He was convicted of four prostitution-related charges. Heavily armed Toronto police rescued two London girls from his Scarborough residence in July of 2004. The 16 and 17 year olds had been abducted and taken to Toronto to work as prostitutes. http://www.atv.ca/london/news_26044.aspx Current News Development: “A pimp convicted of forcing teenage girls into prostitution has been charged Monday for a third time for continuing to run a sex business from behind bars. Streety has been convicted twice before of running a prostitution business while imprisoned. Streety, a U.S. citizen in Canada illegally, is serving an eight-year sentence for the abduction of two London, Ont. teenagers who were forced into prostitution at Toronto body rub parlours. At a previous trial, court heard inmate Streety spent an inordinate amount of time each day talking on a phone on his penitentiary cellblock. Streety was convicted in May of living off the avails of prostitution of girls under the age of 18. He had 32 months added to his sentence. Crown prosecutor John Skoropada said Streety issued orders to the women about when and for how long they could take breaks. Melando and Caleb Nettleton, 24, are charged with two counts of procuring.”
Weldrick Road West, Richmond Hill., Canada
On Tuesday, March 2, 2004, York Regional Police responded to a break and enter in progress at a residence on Weldrick Road West, in the Town of Richmond Hill. What they found upon their arrival, however, had little to do with a break-in. At approximately 12:30 p.m., investigating officers found a woman inside the home, who revealed she and two other females were being held against their will. The three had arrived separately from Russia in the fall of 2003 and began working for Toronto escort services. They would meet numerous clients in various hotels throughout the GTA and provide sexual services. During the month of February, two of the victims, aged 19 and 23, attended a hotel on separate occasions, for what they assumed was a regular meeting with a client. However, upon their arrival, the victims were forcibly removed from the hotel and taken to a residence in Richmond Hill. The third 20-year-old victim was removed from the home she shared with the 19-year-old victim. Their documents and cell phones were taken from them and although they were allowed a certain level of freedom, they were threatened and told their families in Russia were at risk. The victims were driven to and from the Arther’s Spa on Finch Avenue on a daily basis, forced to provide sexual services and turn over their earnings to the owners.
Burnaby, BC Canada, Canada
a 59 yrs old man from Burnaby, BC, Canada, The charges stem from acts between December 1998 and March 2002. Mr. Klassen initially faced trial on 35 counts but pleaded guilty in May to 15 counts involving girls in Cambodia and Colombia, as well as the child pornography charge. Klassen, the father of three lived in Colombia for 20 years before returning to Canada. His lawyers argued he didn't travel there for sex, but became complacent to the age of girls in a place that doesn't have the same stringent laws. Mr. Klassen's lawyers had argued the Burnaby man was merely a “customer” of willing participants after he pleaded guilty to 14 offences of sexual interference and one count of importing child pornography
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Canada
The facts in this case arose before November 2005 when human trafficking became a Criminal Code offence. The alleged female trafficker was sentenced to two years imprisonment for three prostitution-related charges and deported to Thailand. The alleged male trafficker had all charges withdrawn against him due to an "equipment malfunction" on key wire tap evidence. He pled guilty in March 2006 to keeping a common bawdy house and sentenced to pay a $10,000 fine.
Esquimalt British Columbia, Canada
"In 1999, four dilapidated boats arrived off B.C.’s coastal waters carrying approximately 590 Chinese migrants. Among them, 134 children were travelling without parents or a legal guardian. Many of these children had families in China who were expecting them to work in Canada and the United States and send the money home. By definition, these children were trafficked. " http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/octip/identifying.htm
Kennedy Road, Toronto, Canada, Canada
Isra, originally from Thailand, was a victim of sex trafficking and debt peonage, having been sold to a Toronto massage parlor owner for between $16,000 and $25,000 Canadian. Before any of the girls could start making a wage, they had to repay what amounted to nearly double their purchase fee - the reality of which is that most victims would have to service more than 500 men to just pay off their debts to the slave owners. Isra had a considerable debt to repay and was sold and bought multiple times by brothel owners in Toronto proper, Sheppard and Mississauga. She was forced to work a great deal but did not feel she had a way out because she owed her owners so much money. She was forced to take on many customers each day. Note: All of the above information is a synopsis of the passages related to this slave in the book "To Plead Our Own Cause" by Kevin Bales and Zoe Trodd. Book published 2008 by Cornell University Press.