The Sarnia Police Service is urging victims to contact police following the arrest of a 42-year-old man from Georgetown, Ontario, linked to a human trafficking investigation.
“In March of 2024, the Sarnia Police Service initiated a human trafficking investigation in relation to a male, from Georgetown, Ontario,” police said in a news release. “The male was trafficking, procuring and coercing a female victim to provide sexual services for which he was receiving financial benefit.”
A 42-year-old male was arrested, held for a bail hearing, and has been remanded into custody. He faces charge of:
- Trafficking in Persons
- Receiving a Financial or Other Material Benefit
- Forcible Confinement
- Communicate with anyone for purpose of obtaining sexual services
- Material benefit from sexual services
- Procuring
- Advertising sexual services
“Investigators believe there may be additional victims in the Sarnia area, and are urging them to contact police at 519-344-8861,” police said, adding that information may also be provided anonymously through Sarnia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.p3tips.com.
"Human trafficking is when people are coerced, tricked, kept, or moved by individuals for that individual to make money. Human trafficking can take many forms, including forced labour and sexual exploitation. Sex trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.”
If you or someone you know are a victim of human trafficking, you can reach out to these local resources and receive specialized support:
Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre
519-337-3154
Sarnia Police Service
519-344-8861
Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton
519-344-8861
Salvation Army
519-344-1142
Women’s Interval Home
519-336-5200
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
1-833-900-1010