Sault police charge man with trafficking a person under 18

Human Trafficking sign (CTV News)

A 25-year-old Niagara Falls man was charged Wednesday by police in Sault Ste. Marie as a result of a joint missing person investigation with the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

“Sault Police located the missing youth in the 200 block of Great Northern Road June 2. An investigation revealed the accused had picked up the victim, a youth under the age of 16, from their residence in Waterloo without parental consent and brought them to Sault Ste. Marie for the purpose of facilitating their sexual exploitation,” police said in a news release Friday.

“The investigation also revealed the accused had assaulted and threatened the victim during their travels. The victim and accused are known to one another.”

The man now faces numerous charges including abduction, assault, procuring and traffic in persons under 18 years.

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing. police said.

The Sault Ste Marie Police Service is a member of the Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy : a specialized, multi-agency task force dedicated to disrupting and investigating human trafficking networks across the province. If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, please report it to your local police service or Crime Stoppers.

More information about recognizing and reporting human trafficking can be found here.