Man arrested for human trafficking

An Oshawa man is facing several charges, including human trafficking, after a woman forced to work as a prostitute came forward to police.

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Durham police’s Human Trafficking Unit started an investigation after a female victim came forward to report how she had been forced to work as a prostitute and turn over all the money she earned to the male suspect.

She also alleges she was assaulted and threatened multiple times over a course of several months this year.

A 30-year-old male of Bloor Street East has been charged with one count each of procuring, human trafficking, earning material benefits from the trafficking of persons, exercising control over a person and having direction or influence over a person for the purpose of prostitution, two counts of uttering threats of death or bodily harm and four counts of assault.

Police want to ensure there are no other victims, and are asking the public to call the human trafficking hotline at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 4888 with any information related to human trafficking.

Anyone with more information on this investigation is asked to call Det. Const. Accettone at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 3260.