MONTRÉAL, Friday, May 18, 2007 - Investigators of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police Immigration and Passport Section have arrested two alleged
human traffickers. The alleged offenders were charged on Wednesday with
exploiting a 29-year-old Ethiopian woman by subjecting her to forced labour
in their Laval residence.
The owners of the house where the presumed victim was being exploited,
Nichan Manoukian and his spouse Manoudshag Saryboyadjian, face charges
of trafficking in persons, receiving material benefit from it, and withholding
travel or identity documents. This is the first time in Canada that human
trafficking charges are laid in a case of international scope.
The investigation was launched on the basis of information received from
the Laval Police Service indicating that a young Ethiopian woman was doing
household work in a private residence. The young woman then reportedly
confirmed through a third party that her employers were forcing her to
work non-stop, that she did not have access to her identity papers, that
she was not allowed outside the residence alone, and that she was prohibited
from using the telephone. The woman’s employers, using threats to
intimidate her, allegedly told her on several occasions that Canadian authorities
would send her back to her country if she talked to anyone about her situation.
RCMP investigators, working jointly with the Canada Border Services Agency
(CBSA) Intelligence Services, Immigration Division, were able to demonstrate
that in 2004, Nichan Manoukian had applied for a temporary resident visa
(visitor) on behalf of the young woman. However, further applications for
extension of her visitor status were denied. Consequently, the young woman
found herself residing illegally in Canada. Additional evidence was gathered,
allowing the police to lay charges against the two alleged human traffickers.
A Growing Form of Crime
The RCMP is working in close partnership with the CBSA and other police
departments to combat this type of crime. Human trafficking is a fast-growing
form of crime. Criminal organizations engage in two kinds of illegal
immigration activities: alien smuggling, and trafficking in persons with
intent to exploit the victims. Illegal migrants are usually free once
they reach their place of destination, whereas victims of human trafficking
become captive as in this case.
From Recruiting to Exploiting Victims
Human trafficking is performed in three phases, namely recruiting, travel
and exploitation, and for four different purposes: sexual exploitation,
forced labour, child exploitation and organ removal.
- Radio Message -
Anyone who may have
information concerning suspicious activities related to illegal immigration
or human trafficking is invited to contact the RCMP
at (514) 939-8306 or, toll free, 1 866 227-2124. All information will
be kept confidential.
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For Information:
Corporal Élaine Lavergne
Communications Office
Montréal : (514) 939-8308
