In April 2024, the North Bay OPP Crime Unit began an investigation after receiving information regarding human trafficking of a female victim. Through a combined effort with the OPP's Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit, one person has been arrested and is facing criminal charges beyond human trafficking.
A 56-year-old from Mattawa has been charged with:
- Assault with a weapon
- Traffick in persons
- Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons
- Withholding or destroying documents resulting from trafficking in persons
- Communicate with anyone for the purpose of obtaining sexual services
- Material benefit from sexual services (living off the avail)
- Procuring
- Traffick in Schedule I substance - cocaine
The accused was remanded into custody and held for a bail hearing at the North Bay Ontario Court of Justice on August 26.
Police say due to the intimate partner nature of the incident, the name of the accused will not be released in order to protect the identity of the victim.
