Barrie Police have charged three men following a months-long human trafficking investigation that began in September when a victim reported she had been forced to work in the sex trade.
According to police, detectives from the Human Trafficking Unit led the investigation with support from the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-Led Joint Forces Strategy, whose assistance was described as critical to securing the arrests. The Service’s Technological Crime Unit also played a key role after several cell phones were seized as evidence.
As a result, a 24-year-old Barrie man and a 24-year-old Toronto man are each charged with human trafficking, receiving a financial or material benefit, procuring, advertising sexual services, and receiving a material benefit from sexual services. A 34-year-old Toronto man faces charges including human trafficking, procuring, pointing a firearm, and possessing counterfeit currency.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims.
Anyone who may have been a victim or has information is asked to contact Barrie Police at 705-725-7025 or email the Human Trafficking Unit at humantrafficking@barriepolice.ca.
