Human traffickers often start out as "boyfriends," according to RCMP.
Predators exploit vulnerabilities to ensnare victims. Victims dissatisfied with their circumstances are vulnerable to the deceptive “boyfriends'” promises of a better life, love and protection.
“They often start out by becoming ‘boyfriends,’ luring girls with promises of love and protection – a dream of a better life," the Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba RCMP told SaskToday in a joint interview. "They fulfill a need that is ‘missing.’ Then come the gifts, such as clothes, an iPhone, even a pet.”
One of the first steps that a trafficker takes is sending a friend request or compliment to the victim over social media, said the RCMP, adding that if the victim is complaining about their home life, the trafficker may offer them a place to stay.
The recruiters are usually men, but they can also be women.
Romeo Pimp and Gorilla Pimp traffickers
According to the RCMP, the methods of manipulation vary. The common ones are the Romeo Pimp and the Gorilla Pimp.
“The Romeo Pimp approach, also termed the ‘lover boy method,’ is when the trafficker uses charm, gifts, and flattery to romance their victims,” said the RCMP.
“They target vulnerable individuals looking for love or acceptance. These situations can appear as a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship where feelings of love develop on the part of the victim. Despite the trafficker showing affection, the threat of violence is always present. A Romeo Pimp prides themselves on controlling others primarily through psychological manipulation."
The Gorilla Pimp approach is when the trafficker controls their victims almost entirely through physical violence and force. This includes kidnapping, violence, drugs, and blackmail. The acts of violence can be in the form of physical and sexual abuse.
"They often target teenage victims anywhere there is a lack of supervision. Threats and intimidation, control and isolation, and psychological manipulation often occur. Extortion and/or blackmail can occur as a means of enforcing control."
Predators find victims in everyday places
Human traffickers find their victims in every day places, according to RCMP. Malls, parties, fast food restaurants, amusement parks, bus depots or sky trains, universities and colleges, first appearances at youth court, and on social media.
“Contact can be made almost anywhere, and human traffickers target areas where young people are alone for the first time, often far from their family support, and/or times where they are under financial strain,” said the RCMP.
“Human traffickers have moved off the streets and are more commonly found online. Human traffickers target victims through social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, KIK, Snapchat, and dating sites. They can also be found in hotels, Air BnBs, bars, and restaurants.”
Trafficking is exacerbated by the use of technology and social media, according to the RCMP, adding that this makes it easier to move victims from location to location and advertise their labour and/or sex services online.
Risk factors
Human traffickers seek out circumstances ripe for exploitation.
Risk factors that makes victims vulnerable to human trafficking include their age (youth), poverty, addiction, history of abuse, cognitive/physical disabilities, runaway homelessness, LGBTQ2+, structural inequities, and lack of support around them.
“When there is a combination of both individual vulnerabilities and societal/systemic vulnerabilities, it places an individual at the highest risk of capturing the attention of a trafficker,” said the RCMP. “A large majority of girls who are victims of sex trafficking within Canada are under 24 years of age due to the vulnerability factors.”
Indigenous women and girls have less access to services and social support, increasing their risk of being recruited, added the RCMP.
“It is important to note that anyone can become a victim of human trafficking.”
Victims recruit new victims
Other victims may also be used in procurement. If they are cooperative in helping recruit others, victims may not have to meet the same daily quotas or be subjected to violence.
“The victim turned victimizer trend is growing,” said the RCMP.
Victims moved between cities and provinces
Human traffickers move their victims between provinces and cities using various forms of transportation, according to the RCMP.
Cars are a preferred method due to their flexibility and ability to evade detection. Rental vehicles, often registered under false identities or the victim’s name, facilitate frequent changes along trafficking circuits, complicating law enforcement efforts to track their movements.
“Human traffickers frequently use cars as a mode of transportation, especially along circuits,” said the RCMP. “Traffickers are better able to control their victims in a car, the cost of travel is lower than air travel, and it is easier to adjust routes in order to meet the demand for commercial sex.”
Air travel also plays a role, particularly in cases involving significant distances between trafficking hubs. Victims are flown from one major city to another, strategically moving from, for instance, Montreal to lucrative markets such as Fort McMurray or Grande Prairie in Alberta. This method capitalizes on remote locations where victims are exploited in profitable commercial sex trades.
Additionally, traffickers utilize trains, buses, boats, and public transportation to facilitate the movement of individuals under their control, according to the RCMP.
Signs of victims
Recognizing the signs early can potentially save lives and stop exploitation, say police.
Indicators that may suggest someone is being trafficked include visible injuries or bruises from physical abuse, as well as distinctive brands or scars indicating ownership. Signs of malnourishment or unexplained changes in appearance, such as excessively groomed hair and nails despite financial constraints, can also be telling. Behavioural cues like fearful body language, relying heavily on another person for communication, or seeking approval before speaking or acting, may indicate coercion or intimidation.
Sudden shifts in behaviour – such as becoming increasingly withdrawn from family and friends – or unexplained absences for short periods without clarification could signal involvement in trafficking. Patterns of frequent stays at various hotels or Airbnbs may also raise suspicions.
“Each of these in themselves do not mean a person is a victim of trafficking; however, the totality of a number of factors and indicators may warrant further investigation or intervention,” said the RCMP.
“It is always encouraged that anyone with knowledge of someone being trafficked (labour or sex trafficking) should report it to the police of their jurisdiction.”
Victims of human trafficking exhibit various indicators that can signal their exploitation. Recognizing these signs is crucial for timely intervention and support.
Victims of human trafficking may:
-Show signs of being controlled, intimidated, or afraid.
-Be displaced from home and resources and be new to a community or country, increasing vulnerability.
-Have bruises, show signs of abuse, and/or show signs of malnutrition.
-Not be allowed to speak on their own behalf.
-Not be able to explain their circumstances, surroundings, or what community they are in.
-Be unaware of where their personal documents are located (passport, etc.).
-Not be able to move or leave their job.
-Have tattooing or branding to indicate ownership.
-Not speak English nor French.
-Frequently move or be accompanied by their trafficker.
Gaining victim’s trust
Gaining the trust of human trafficking survivors poses significant challenges, according to the RCMP, emphasizing the importance of establishing a bond built on transparency and empathy.
“Establishing trust is essential because the victim needs to know with certainty that whatever help is being offered to them is significantly better than what they are currently being afforded by their trafficker.”
Survivors of human trafficking require sensitive and patient interactions from law enforcement during their initial contact with police, especially with those who are most marginalized and at a greater risk of experiencing violence.
Disclosure is a process and it may take a number of contacts with the victim before they are ready to speak, if ever, noted RCMP. They highlighted various reasons survivors may be hesitant to speak with authorities, including fear of retaliation from traffickers, lack of awareness about their rights, and concerns about their personal safety or the safety of their families.
RCMP say responding respectfully and patiently assists this process, remembering that victims may not want to talk for the following reasons:
-They’ve been told that the police cannot be trusted.
-They’ve been told that they are the one who will get in trouble with the law.
-They are unaware or misinformed about their rights, the laws against human trafficking, and the social systems in place to help victims.
-They’re afraid the trafficker will look to locate them if they know they’ve spoken to police.
-They’re afraid of physical abuse.
-Their current situation is better than what they had.
-They believe their trafficker truly loves them, despite the abuse.
-Their families back home have been threatened.
-They don’t want their family or friends to know what they had to do while being trafficked. Some victims fear bringing shame to their family if they speak about it.
The safety, basic necessities, and well-being of the victim must be the core of any human trafficking investigation, said the RCMP.
"This not only assists with the investigation, but more importantly, it will assist with the victim’s recovery, reducing the risk of secondary and repeated victimization. Overall, building trust can take time, but compassion and kindness goes a long way."
Challenges in quantifying numbers
Measuring the extent of human trafficking in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba presents challenges due to a variety of factors, making it difficult to provide statistical numbers, say RCMP.
Firstly, the quantification of statistical data depends on multiple variables.
“Reporting agencies may not all adopt the same definition of ‘human trafficking,’” said the RCMP. “Policing agencies all report to Statistics Canada; therefore, the number reported to Statistics Canada would only reflect reported cases of trafficking and it is a well-adopted belief that most cases of trafficking in persons go unreported.”
In Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation Unit and Trafficking Response Team are relatively new, with more accurate statistics expected in the future. It's important to note that not all of Saskatchewan is policed by the RCMP, and municipal forces also play a role in reporting, said the RCMP.
Similarly, in Alberta, investigative bodies like ALERT North and ALERT South handle human trafficking cases, alongside RCMP FSOC/IBET for labour trafficking. Specific statistics on cases opened in 2022 and 2023 are not readily available due to ongoing investigations and reporting complexities.
In Manitoba, RCMP detachments are often the initial point of contact for trafficking investigations. Human trafficking incidents may initially be categorized differently (e.g., as exploitation or luring incidents) before being recognized as trafficking, complicating statistical tracking.
“Our databases are set up for investigational purposes, not to gather statistics without the assistance of criminal analysts,” said Manitoba RCMP. “This would be a monumental task for an analyst as there are so many facets to a trafficking investigation, that it might be filed under something completely different, such as a traffic stop because that was the first interaction of police with the investigation.
“Human trafficking is horribly under-reported whether because of fear or shame, or because the victim does not realize they are being trafficked and does not identify as a victim.”
Who are the human traffickers?
There are independent traffickers who traffic a single person in familiar situations or who run several people for labour or sexual exploitation.
“Although many human trafficking cases are tied to other criminal activity, such as drug trade and outlaw motorcycle gangs, the majority of cases are either smaller groups of two or more individuals trafficking several persons or an independent trafficker exploiting one or more persons at a time,” said the RCMP. “In Alberta, for example, there is not one specific group or organization for trafficking in persons.”
Victims may even be recruited by their friends.
“These friends may show off all that they have been given by their trafficker while minimizing the risk of their situation,” said the RCMP.
Getting convictions
Obtaining charges and convictions in human trafficking cases remains an uphill battle, exacerbated by the immense challenges faced by vulnerable witnesses, said the RCMP.
“You are dealing with a very vulnerable witness going through all sorts of old and new trauma. Every time they are asked to speak about the topic they are having to re-live their experiences.”
The historical nature of many trafficking cases compounds these difficulties, according to the RCMP.
“Evidence is lost due to the passage of time other than the verbal statement of the survivor who has to deal with lengthy trial processes and difficult cross examinations. Saying that, prosecutors and courts have done much to assist in making the trial process less traumatic for survivors and put processes in place to assist in this effort to make testifying less traumatic for survivors of human trafficking.”
Despite the obstacles, prosecutors and courts have taken proactive steps to mitigate the trauma inflicted upon survivors during legal proceedings. RCMP say the courts have made changes to make it easier on survivors, including privacy screens, CCTV testimony, support persons, support dogs, and limited cross examination.
Educating youth about red flags
Educating youth across Western Canada on recognizing human trafficking red flags and knowing how to respond are actively underway. They involve collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and schools.
Saskatchewan RCMP say they have done presentations about human trafficking for youth in schools. The presentations are designed to be age appropriate, while still highlighting the very serious nature of human trafficking. These presentations will continue, upon request, and will be delivered by Community Program Officers and/or members of SERT.
Alberta RCMP say their RCMP Human Trafficking Unit, in partnership with the RCMP Community Safety and Wellbeing Unit, School Resource Officers, and the newly-developed Youth Officers Program, delivers PowerPoint presentations tailored for junior high and high school students. These sessions aim to equip young people with the knowledge to identify potential signs of trafficking and understand appropriate actions to take.
Additionally, non-governmental organizations like ACT Alberta and #notinmycity offer training and online courses regarding awareness of human trafficking.
Similarly, in Manitoba, RCMP say they continually present to schools – both youth and educators – about human trafficking.
"Much of the content focuses on preventing human trafficking before it starts: letting youth know about exploitation, what consent means, how to recognize the signs of an unhealthy relationship and how to extricate from that, and we talk extensively about safety online. Often, it is our Internet Child Exploitation Unit who makes these presentations."
Educating the public
The Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT) has taken proactive steps to educate the public about human trafficking, emphasizing community engagement and awareness through a series of informative presentations.
Community Program Officers have played a pivotal role in delivering presentations upon request, ensuring that knowledge about human trafficking reaches diverse audiences across the province, said Sask. RCMP.
Their efforts have included community presentations that were delivered in Hudson Bay, Porcupine Plain, and Kelvington at the request of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
In Swift Current, SERT delivered a presentation to several employees of Dorie’s House and The Centre in Swift Current, SERT made significant strides by conducting targeted presentations for employees of Dorie’s House and The Centre, organizations committed to supporting vulnerable individuals.
Additionally, SERT extended its outreach to various government sector employees, including the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), Victim Services, and Domestic Violence Victim Services, enhancing understanding and preparedness among key stakeholders.
Highlighting their commitment to public awareness, SERT presented at a human trafficking public awareness event that was hosted by the Regina Women’s Network.
In Alberta, the RCMP collaborates with several non-government agencies on public awareness initiatives and works with government and non-government agencies by providing information on human trafficking.
The Alberta RCMP is intensifying efforts to raise awareness and educate the public on the critical issue of human trafficking.
Led by the Alberta RCMP Human Trafficking Coordinator, comprehensive training sessions are underway for RCMP members who deal with youth on a daily basis.
This includes School Resource Officers and Domestic Violence officers. The officers will be trained on trafficking offences, the signs of trafficking survivors, and understanding trauma informed/victim centred approaches to helping survivors of human trafficking. The members will be provided with information on who their survivor support partners are and how they can be reached to provide ongoing care for sexual and labour trafficking survivors.
Moreover, the Alberta RCMP Human Trafficking Coordinator has been actively engaged in webinars, offering valuable insights from a law enforcement perspective. This includes “ACT Alberta” who runs specific webinars for discussions on Labour Trafficking. Sgt. Roland Misik has partnered with the Little Warrior’s Foundation “Be Brave Ranch” who support survivors of youth sexual assault. They will be presenting on the Victims and Survivors of Crime Week Webinar in collaboration with the Canadian Center to End all Human Trafficking.
The Alberta RCMP Human Trafficking Coordinator has partnered with RCMP detachments, school divisions and the “Love Bomb” theater production which delivers a theatrical performance to high school students on human trafficking. At the end of the production there is a talk back session for parents and students, allowing the public and students to ask question to a panel of RCMP members, school resource officers, and school teachers. “Love Bomb” travels across the country raising awareness about human trafficking. In 2023, the production reached students from 22 different schools and over 400 high school students across Alberta.
Meanwhile, in Manitoba, RCMP were a partner of the launch of the national Joy Smith Foundation, an organization headquartered in Winnipeg that supports survivors of human trafficking, with education as one of its main pillars.
"Having dedicated subject matter experts who build connections throughout the community and are provided the opportunity to engage with organizations assisting at-risk individuals is another way the Manitoba RCMP helps educate the public about human trafficking," said Manitoba RCMP.
Recognizing the crucial role of education in prevention, the Manitoba RCMP extends its outreach efforts to schools, where presentations cover topics such as consent, fostering healthy relationships, and online safety. They also utilize social media to outline risk factors and indicators.
Moreover, the Manitoba RCMP conducts targeted presentations to diverse groups across the province, including volunteers from organizations such as St. John’s Ambulance. These sessions are designed to equip attendees with the knowledge necessary to identify potential trafficking indicators and take appropriate action.
Furthermore, the Manitoba RCMP has increased officer education and incorporated human trafficking education into many facets of police training, as front-line police officers have the most interaction with the public and need to be aware of indicators and risk factors, said Manitoba RCMP.
Nationwide effort combats human trafficking
Police agencies across Canada have increased their collaborative efforts to combat human trafficking.
“The RCMP utilizes their network of Provincial Coordinators and National Working Group of Municipal and Federal police officers to quickly share and exchange information regarding potential traffickers or victims of trafficking being moved from one location to another,” said the RCMP. “These partnerships are vital to supporting survivors and victims of human trafficking regardless of their willingness to cooperate with police at the time.”
A recent example underscores the effectiveness of this coordinated approach: Alberta RCMP, in conjunction with their counterparts in Nova Scotia, successfully apprehended a trafficker who had fled to evade investigation. This operation highlights the seamless cooperation facilitated by agencies like ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams), a Joint Forces Operational (JFO) team collaborating with RCMP, Edmonton City Police, and Calgary City Police.
Saskatchewan RCMP has also developed invaluable relationships with its municipal policing partners.
“Human trafficking investigations require a ‘no borders’ approach, and investigators working on human trafficking understand this,” said Saskatchewan RCMP. “Information is shared and assistance is offered whenever requested. In the past year, SERT has participated in operations with the Regina Police Service and the Saskatoon Police Service related to human trafficking.”
How you can help
Family and friends can provide people they care about with information and direct them to resources where they can educate themselves about human trafficking in Canada.
Some resources include:
- The Canadian Center to End Human Trafficking
-The RCMP Human Trafficking: Recognizing and reporting
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24-hours a day at 1-833-900-1010. Inform the victims that the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline has a National Referral Directory that can connect them to emergency, transitional, and long-term services in communities across Canada.
Family and friends can provide unconditional support and reassurance that anything that has happened to the victim was not their fault and that there are people and processes in place to assist them in exiting and regaining control of their life, said the RCMP.
