Photograph by Logan Caudue/Kingstonist.
The Ontario Provincial Police have arrested a person for human trafficking and baby sexual abuse materials offences, after info from Kingston Police and Better Sudbury Police prompted an investigation.
The investigation, named Mission Shrewsbury, started in August 2024, when members from Better Sudbury Police and Kingston Police obtained info of a male recruiting and transporting two younger females from their jurisdictions for the aim of {sex} trafficking, in line with a launch from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Police stated that because of the human trafficking ingredient, the investigation was coordinated by the OPP-led Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Technique (IJFS). Peel Regional Police grew to become concerned when it was recognized that the offences towards the females happened within the Better Toronto Space (GTA).
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, members of the OPP arrested 37-year-old Sheldon Lester Saunders, of Scarborough, and have charged him with the next offences:
Assault inflicting bodily harmAdvertising sexual servicesProcuring underneath 18 yearsMaterial profit ensuing from trafficking in personsMaterial profit from sexual providers obtained from particular person underneath 18 yearsTraffic in individuals underneath 18 years of ageDisobey court docket orderMakes, prints or publishes any baby pornographyPossession of kid pornographyImports, distributes or sells any baby pornographyAssault
Saunders reportedly stays in custody and is scheduled to look on the Ontario Courtroom of Justice in Brampton later this month.
In line with the discharge, the victims had been taken to locations of security and supplied help providers. Police imagine there could also be extra victims and ask that anybody who has info come ahead to their native police. A video associated to the case is positioned right here: https://youtu.be/Xr68ijQGQMg
The OPP Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad and IJFS members from Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police and Sufferer Companies of Kingston and Frontenac supplied extra help, police detailed.
Kingstonist has adopted up with the OPP for additional particulars on the native side of this investigation. This text shall be up to date if additional info turns into accessible.
The Canadian Centre to Finish Human Trafficking has assets accessible for victims and survivors of human trafficking on their web site at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca. A nationwide hotline can be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week at 1-833-900-1010.
