NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
***************************
Two Bradford women are facing numerous charges following an investigation into human trafficking.
On Jan. 31, 2020, South Simcoe Police Service and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched a joint investigation after receiving information about forced labour human trafficking involving a company that provides cleaning services.
The investigation determined that Mexican-born workers were being recruited, trafficked and defrauded by the accused after being brought to Canada under the pretense of proper accommodations and employment. Once they arrived in Canada, the victims were housed in poor living conditions, paid minimal amounts of cash and threatened with deportation.
On April 14, 2020, South Simcoe Police Service officers conducted search warrants in Bradford and arrested two people.
Fanny Chimoy Melendez, 39, and Maria Flores Evariston, 31, both of Bradford are each charged with the following offences:
• Trafficking in persons (five counts)
• Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
Both accused were released at the scene. The victims are currently in refugee centres in the GTA. The CBSA’s investigation is on-going.
Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour. If you or someone you know may be a victim, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010, 9-1-1, or your local police.
***************************
