Two residents of Thorold have been arrested and charged by Niagara Regional Police in connection with a human trafficking investigation and police say there may be more victims in other cities.
Police said in September, detectives began investigating what the described as "a Thorold couple" in connection with human trafficking throughout Niagara and the province.
The investigation was assisted by the Barrie Police, the Niagara Regional Police Service said in a news release.
On Oct. 4, NRPS detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Esther Crescent in Thorold.
The NRPS Emergency Task Unit assisted with the warrant. Two suspects were arrested at the residence.
The search resulted in the seizure of evidence relating to the human trafficking investigation, police allege, as well as:
- 1,000 grams of suspected fentanyl (Approx. $40,000 street value)
- $7,000 in proceeds of crime
- Various drug trafficking paraphernalia
Shaquelle Fitzroy Haughton, 28, of Thorold is charged with the criminal offences of:
- Trafficking in Persons
- Material Benefit - Trafficking Person over 18
- Material Benefit from Sexual Services
- Procuring
- Advertising Another Person's Sexual Services
- Possess a Schedule I Substance (Fentanyl) for the purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
- Fail to Comply with Release Order (two counts)
Jade Charley, 28, of Thorold is charged with the criminal offences of:
- Trafficking in Persons
- Material Benefit - Trafficking Person over 18
- Material Benefit from Sexual Services
- Procuring
- Advertising Another Person's Sexual Services
- Possess a Schedule I Substance (Fentanyl) for the purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
Haughton and Charley were held in custody for a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on Oct. 4. They were both ordered held in custody.
Charley is scheduled to reappear in court Oct. 5 and Haughton on Oct. 6.
"As a result of the ongoing investigation detectives have reason to suspect that there may be more victims," police said.
According to police, Charley is known to frequent Brantford, Woodstock, Sarnia, northern Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area and Winnipeg.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009548.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
