Human-trafficking charges laid in seven-province investigation

HALIFAX — A 31-year-old man is facing multiple charges after a year-long, seven-province investigation into a human-trafficking ring allegedly forcing “numerous” Nova Scotia women into the sex trade across Canada.

The RCMP said it learned last April that men originally from Nova Scotia had relocated to Ontario and were trafficking and exploiting women from their home province.

Supt. Alfredo Bangloy would not say how many victims are involved, but said the suspect named on Thursday, Lorenzo Trevor Thomas, is associated with a Halifax-area street gang known as North Preston’s Finest.

“We know there are other victims of human trafficking from Nova Scotia out there. Our goal is to find these women, get them to safety and go after their traffickers,” Bangloy said.

“We want to see victims and their families get their lives back.”

Due to the complexity of the investigation — dubbed Operation Hellbender — Nova Scotia Mounties worked with Halifax Regional Police and RCMP in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland.

Thomas was arrested by police in Niagara Falls on March 27 and remains in custody in Ontario.

He’s facing 17 charges, including trafficking in persons, assault, advertising sexual services and receiving a material benefit from sexual services. Police say more charges could be laid.

Bangloy said such investigations are often reliant on victims coming forward, and the RCMP is urging them to contact police.

“These victims are generally isolated, taken far away from home and made to fear for their safety,” said Bangloy at a press conference at Nova Scotia RCMP headquarters in Halifax.

Bangloy stressed police are not looking to investigate sex-trade workers.

Const. Natasha Jamieson, RCMP awareness co-ordinator for human trafficking, said victims often do not initially realize they are being trafficked.

She said it often begins with a trafficker seeking out a vulnerable teenager. They then groom the victim by making them feel special and showing them a more glamorous life.

Jamieson said perpetrators then begin to manipulate the victim, often threatening them and making them believe they must work to get back in their “good books.”