Sex trafficking of 2 victims across southern Ontario leads to arrest: police

A man from the Niagara area with ties to Mississauga and Brampton faces numerous human trafficking, gun and drug charges after a police investigation revealed “two females” were forced to have sex for money across the Golden Horseshoe region of southern Ontario.

Peel Regional Police vice unit investigators spearheaded the multi-force police probe that began last month and led to the recent arrest of a 37-year-old Thorold man.

He’s facing more than two dozen charges after police say “two females” who didn’t know one another “had been sexually trafficked throughout the Golden Horseshoe area.”

Police didn’t say how old the alleged victims are.

A man “exercised control over aspects of their lives while profiting financially from it,” Peel police said in a news release on Friday.

Investigators in Peel said Halton and Niagara police helped in the investigation and arrest.

The probe began in October when officers in Peel and Halton identified the two alleged victims, police said.

Police executed two search warrants at homes in Thorold, which led to the arrest of a suspect and recovery of a loaded gun, a “large amount of ammunition,” a drum magazine capable of holding 50 rounds of ammunition and an amount of drugs.

Handgun recovered by police during their investigation. (Photo: Peel Regional Police)

Police also seized a car they believe was used in the commission of the human trafficking offences.

Marcus Moses, 37, of Thorold, who police say has community ties to Peel, is charged with numerous offences that include two counts each of trafficking in persons, exercise control, direction or influence, advertise sexual services, receive material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons and possession of a prohibited device.

He’s also charged with possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, careless use of a firearm and possession for the purpose of trafficking (two counts).

Moses was held for a bail hearing in Brampton court.

Investigators believe there could be additional victims, particularly in the Golden Horseshoe.

Anyone with information is urged to call police at 905-453-2121, ext. 3555, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

(Cover photo: Peel Regional Police)