Two NS Men Arrested for Human Trafficking
Two former Nova Scotians appeared in court today on charges of human trafficking, following an 18 month police operation, code named ‘Hellbender’.
Nova Scotia RCMP arrested thirty-one-year-old Malachi Almonzo Downey in Upper Onslow on Friday. Then Sunday, police detained 29-year-old Sanderico Rekel Beals in Dartmouth. The two men are from the province but Downey now lives in Vaughn Ontario, while Beals moved to Scarborough.
Downey and Beals are each charged with:
• Trafficking in Persons
• Receiving a Material Benefit from Sexual Services
• Receiving a Material Benefit from Trafficking in Persons
• Laundering Proceeds of Crime
Downey is also charged with Possession of the drug percocet.
Both men were remanded into custody and appeared in Dartmouth Provincial Court this morning.
“By arresting and charging these human traffickers today, we are removing them from a position to exploit more young women and girls in Nova Scotia and across Canada,” says Supt. Alfredo Bangloy, Federal Policing Officer. “Our goal is to get victims to safety and link them with resources and support to break the cycle of violence.”
Young women from Nova Scotia have been lured into exotic dancing, and prostitution, then sold to centres in Ontario and further west.
A few years ago, the RCMP referred to the Trans Canada Highway between Halifax and Moncton as ‘The Highway of Tears’.
“Sometimes people don’t realize that they’re victims of human trafficking. The relationship between victim and trafficker can take many forms so it’s important to learn the warning signs,” says Constable Natasha Jamieson. “If you have any doubt about whether you or someone you know may be a victim, please contact us.”
Operation Hellbender
Operation Hellbender started in April 2016 after Nova Scotia RCMP learned that men originally from Nova Scotia had relocated to Ontario and were trafficking and exploiting women from Nova Scotia in the sex trade across Canada. Human trafficking involves controlling, forcing, intimidating or deceiving a person in order to exploit him or her through various forms of sexual exploitation or forced labour.
As part of Operation Hellbender, RCMP officers from Nova Scotia travelled across the country to locate victims of human trafficking from Nova Scotia.
Due to the complexity of the investigation, officers worked with RCMP from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Assistance was provided by Halifax Regional Police, Niagara Regional Police, York Regional, Police and Toronto Police Service.