Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit - Human Trafficking Section are expected to release the details tomorrow, Oct. 16, in a multi-provincial human trafficking and organized crime investigation dubbed Project Convalesce that has resulted in more than 200 charges and the arrest of 31 people.
Representatives from partner agencies in this investigation, including the Ontario Provincial Police, the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police and the Équipe intégrée de lutte contre le proxénétisme (the Quebec Integrated Human Trafficking Task Force) will join York police at the 10:30 a.m. media conference at its Aurora headquarters.
Photos and videos taken during the arrests and search warrant executions will also be released tomorrow.
“We remain extremely concerned about the appalling levels of violence and victimization of women occurring in these human trafficking rings. We continue to encourage victims of human trafficking to reach out to us for help,” said York police Chief Eric Jolliffe. “Our trained investigators have been working tirelessly to see that criminals who victimize vulnerable members of our community are held accountable for their actions.”
Members of the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit - Human Trafficking Section continue its aggressive efforts in combating human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and underage girls. In many cases, victims are forced into the sex trade through violence, threats of violence, coercion and trickery, police say.
York police is committed to investigating all incidents relating to human trafficking and providing assistance to victims. Investigators are willing to speak with anyone involved in the sex trade who may be looking for a way out or who may require assistance to escape these dangerous circumstances.
Check back here for more on this developing story.
