The Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, established by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, released a report that provides a national overview of human trafficking in Canada. The report aimed to identify transnational trafficking systems, source countries, the level of involvement of organized crime networks, and the barriers law enforcement officials face in addressing human trafficking. The report examined data gathered from human trafficking investigations between 2005 and 2009. The research from the report serves as a preliminary baseline on the problem of human trafficking in Canada.

The report found that the internet was used as a means to recruit and advertise under-age victims of trafficking. The report also found that traffickers were linked to organized crime networks that engaged in a number of other criminal activities, such as conspiracy to commit murder, credit card fraud, mortgage fraud, and immigration fraud. A connection was also found between street gangs’ pimping culture and their association with human trafficking. According to the report, a number of control mechanisms were used by the traffickers, such as social isolation, forcible confinement, withholding identification documents, and threats to harm the victims’ families. The report also found that a significant number of women were trafficked for labor-related reasons, and were exploited as domestic workers.    

To access the full report, please click here.

Compiled from: Human Trafficking in Canada: A Threat Assessment, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (last accessed 9 November 2010); WUNRN.com.