The Peace Bridge is one of the border crossing that link the Niagara Region with the U.S. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)
Niagara’s tourist area also has a plethora of hotels and motels where trafficking can stay hidden, said Mayer. There are also farms where vulnerable workers may be experiencing labour trafficking, which often happens in tandem with sex trafficking, she added.
Mayer described human trafficking as a “silent crime” as it’s often difficult to investigate or lay charges. Investigators must rely a lot on testimony from survivors who may not want to pursue justice through the court system.
Many survivors choose not to report it at all, she said.
“There’s a lot of trust that has been broken within our social and police systems,” Mayer said.
Police in Niagara said this week they used intelligence gathering and a “victim-centred approach” when conducting investigations related to the recent charges.
Police arresting 13 people is rare and will help to slowly rebuild trust with survivors, Mayer said.
- If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, you can call Canada’s national human trafficking hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
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