Niagara police arrest 3 in human trafficking probe

Niagara police have arrested three men in connection with a human trafficking investigation which focused on the demand for commercialized sexual services from youth within the Niagara region.

On Monday, officers arrested a 36-year-old St. Catharines man who is facing two human trafficking charges.

Officers say the incident associated with that man is subject to a publication ban and his name cannot be released.

On Tuesday, 33-year-old Gurpreet Singh of Niagara Falls was arrested and also faces human trafficking charges.

Mehdi Budak, 22,of Niagara Falls also faces similar charges.

The St. Catharines male, Singh, and Budak are being held in custody pending their bail hearings in St. Catharines.

“Human trafficking is a predatory and deeply harmful crime, and these results send a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated in our community,” said Niagara Regional Police Service Chief Bill Fordy.

Survivors of Human Trafficking are encouraged to contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010 or on the internet link click here.

This is a 24/7 confidential support resource available in over 200 languages.

For more information about community support options for survivors of Human Trafficking and the Niagara Regional Police Service’s efforts to combat Human Trafficking click here.

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