It takes in more than $200 billion a year, and police officials say that human trafficking numbers in Canada hit 528 cases last year.
According to police, they believe that number is much higher.
“Due to the hidden and often transient nature of human trafficking, gathering specific statistics for counties or cities is challenging,” said Ashley Horton, a detective sergeant with the OPP.
Ontario and Nova Scotia lead the way in reported incidents. Roughly eight out of ten reported incidents take place in metropolitan areas, with 48 percent of incidents in Canada being reported in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Hamilton. St. Catherines and London also reported high numbers of human trafficking, however experts and police stress this is not a just a big-city problem.
Horton is also the West Region team lead for the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-Led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS), and she stressed that small rural communities have roles in human trafficking networks.
“Cities and towns can be classified by their roles in the networks,” Horton said. “There are source locations where traffickers recruit victims, destination locations where victims are brought to work, and transit routes where victims are used to be transported. Perth County is primarily a source or transit location, although large towns with hotels can also become destination locations.”
Like many crimes there is the question of how this can still be happening in 2024, and the answer for crimes like fraud and human trafficking come down to money.
“Many traffickers are motivated by financial gain, and high profits can draw some individuals toward this criminal activity,” said Horton.
Traffickers are also sophisticated, as they manipulate victims into believing they are not actually being trafficked. Predators also go after vulnerable populations.
“Victims of human trafficking are frequently from highly vulnerable populations,” said Horton. “This includes migrant workers, new immigrants, Indigenous women and youth, at-risk youth and those facing social or economic disadvantages.”
While most people think of sex work when they think of human trafficking it is important to remember that isn’t the only form that exists.
“In addition to sex trafficking, human trafficking includes labour trafficking,” says Horton. “This is a form of modern slavery where people are forced or deceived into providing labour or services under coercion.”
The three most common types of labour trafficking include: debt bondage where people are trapped paying off debts they may never repay, forced labour where people are threatened to work without compensation, and involuntary child labour where children are forced to work without protections.
With human trafficking being a global crisis, police must work together to get convictions, which Horton says requires collaboration from all levels of policing and social organizations.
“Police agencies in Canada work together to coordinate investigations, share resources and connect victims to community-based support,” she says. “The OPP works closely with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on border enforcement teams that target organized crime, including human trafficking.”
The IJFS is a partnership between 21 police agencies across the province which identify, investigate and disrupt human trafficking operations, while sharing intelligence with other police agencies across the province. Police say that recognizing human trafficking is getting harder and harder as signs are not always obvious.
There are several warning signs could suggest someone is being trafficked and may need help including:
- Withholding personal information or providing false information
- Being unable to provide an address or details of where they live
- Having limited or no luggage or clothing unsuitable for the weather
- Allowing someone else to take control of conversations
- Not having their own identification or money
- Appearing afraid, anxious or visibly malnourished or sleep-deprived
- Being tightly controlled or monitored by another person
People who have knowledge of someone being trafficked or or potential trafficking activities is encouraged to contact Victim Services.
