NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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A 25-year-old man from the City of Toronto has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison after being found guilty of several offences in connection with a human trafficking investigation.
On June 5, 2019, following a trial in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, Justice Rose found Rameen Tazike guilty of the offences of Human Trafficking in Persons Under the Age of 18, Human Trafficking Material Benefit of a Person Under 18, Material Benefit From Sexual Services of a Person Under 18, Procuring a Person Under 18 to Become a Prostitute, Sexual Assault x2, Criminal Harassment and Mischief Under $5,000.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in the Ontario of Justice in Newmarket, Justice Rose sentenced Mr. Tazike to 7-1/2 years of jail time.
The accused was arrested on Aug. 12, 2017, after an investigation that began in July 2017 into a youth victim who had been forced to work in the sex trade.
“We continue to encourage victims of human trafficking to reach out to us for help,” said Chief Eric Jolliffe. “Our highly trained investigators work tirelessly to ensure that criminals who seek to victimize vulnerable members of our community are held accountable for their actions.”
Members of the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit - Human Trafficking Section are continuing their 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.
York Regional 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.
A national hotline has been established through the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking to provide an avenue for victims and survivors to access assistance and for members of the public to report incidents of human trafficking. The hotline is 1-833-900-1010. For more information please click on the following link: https://www.canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca/
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit - Human Trafficking Section at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6800, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS,or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
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