Former N.S. man facing historical human trafficking charges
“We have spoken with other victims, and we still believe there are more out there. We’ve also spoken to other witnesses who remember (these alleged incidents).” Cpl. David Lane
RCMP in Nova Scotia have charged a former resident of the province with 10 offences after an investigation into human trafficking in Halifax County between 2007 and 2010.
Police started the investigation, named Operation Hypnosis, in March 2022 after one of the complainants came to them.
On March 7, armed with an arrest warrant, officers from Nova Scotia flew to Alberta and arrested 36-year-old Darrell Robert William Fisher, formerly of Halifax County, in Edmonton.
He appeared in Halifax provincial court March 11 and was released on conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court again April 9 on charges of human trafficking, receiving a material benefit from human trafficking, procuring a person for human trafficking, living off the avails of prostitution, making child pornography, sexual assault, assault, uttering threats and two counts of drug trafficking.
Cpl. David Lane with the Nova Scotia RCMP’S human trafficking unit said the investigation became a named operation because it was such an in-depth investigation.
“Any historical case is difficult and a challenge, and human trafficking cases in themselves are challenging and complex,” he said. “It’s an historical, multi-jurisdictional human trafficking investigation that involved multiple victims, although not all of them have come forward at this point.”
The charges laid against Fisher at this point involve more than one victim, and they are under the ages of 18, he said.
“We have spoken with other victims, and we still believe there are more out there,” Lane said. “We’ve also spoken to other witnesses who remember (these alleged incidents).”
He said anyone else who believes they were a victim can contact RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
All the charges relate to incidents in Halifax County, Lane said. Fisher has been living in Alberta for several years.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information can call the Nova Scotia human trafficking hotline at 902-449-2425, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.