Charges include human trafficking, assault and child exploitation
(KINGSTON, ON) – One person has been charged with 76 criminal offences during a joint investigation between the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Kingston Police.
The joint investigation, named Project Shamrock, began in January 2022 when Kingston Police were made aware of an individual luring victims through social media platforms. A thorough investigation was conducted by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS) f rom the Kingston Police, Ottawa Police Service, Peterborough Police Service and the OPP Digital Forensics.
Initially, ten victims were identified and provided with aid through a victim services agency, and they are now in a place of safety. Police identified additional victims, resulting in further charges being laid. The investigation was supported by Kingston Victim Services and the OPP IJFS Victim Specialist (of the OPP Victim-Centred Approach Team).
As part of this ongoing investigation, Michael Mark HAAIMA, 38-year-old male resident of Kingston, was recently charged with offences contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada as follows:
The accused is being held in custody. Police suspect there are other victims and are urging anyone with any additional information to contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police. If you or someone you know may be a victim of these crimes, call 9-1-1 immediately.
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010. Human trafficking resources are available at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca</ a>.