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Nova Scotia RCMP arrested three people and two of them are facing more than 50 charges each for sex trafficking and drugs and weapons offences after a year-long investigation in rural Cape Breton.
Sgt. Jeff MacFarlane, with the RCMP’s human trafficking unit, said even after a lengthy investigation, police are still trying to figure out how big the case is.
“We don’t know how many victims there are and that’s largely why we’re attempting to do our outreach and use all of the resources we have to make sure that people know they can come forward and speak to us,” he said.
“Often people don’t even realize that they have been victimized by this person or this pair or other people.”
MacFarlane said the case involves offering drugs to people in exchange for having sex with another person, without them realizing someone else was profiting from that trade.
Hubert Alexander Matthews, 63, is facing single counts of human trafficking, material benefit from human trafficking, possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking in drugs.
Accused facing 50 firearms charges each
He also faces 50 firearms charges including unauthorized possession, possession knowing it’s unauthorized, careless use, contravening storage regulations and possession of a prohibited weapon knowing it’s unauthorized.
Harriet Battiste, 61, faces a single charge of drug possession for the purposes of trafficking, as well as the same weapons charges as Matthews.
Matthews remains in custody, while Battiste has been released on conditions.
RCMP say another man who was arrested in the case has been released pending further investigation.
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The arrests were made Wednesday at a residence in West Bay Centre, a small community about 20 kilometres northeast of Port Hawkesbury.
MacFarlane said even though RCMP have laid charges, the investigation is ongoing and police are still looking to help more victims.
“A lot of people might think, ‘If I receive drugs and then in exchange I have sex with somebody, that may seem OK,’ and that may seem like consent to them,” he said.
“The problem is it’s not true consent and if that person is actually making money off of the activities that you’re doing, that’s a crime.
“We have already begun to identify other people who have been victimized by this same pair and specifically the one male person who has been identified.”
Victim centred, trauma informed approach
MacFarlane said the RCMP’s human trafficking unit offers a variety of resources to help victims of crime, including having a civilian team member who can help navigate the court process or social services that may be required, such as housing, food and clothing.
“We take a very unique approach that’s completely victim centred and trauma informed to make sure that they can get everything that they need and to know that we’re going to work with them,” he said.
“We’re not utilizing them to lay charges. We want to get them the help that they need.”
RCMP say anyone with information or who believes they may be a victim should call the Nova Scotia human trafficking hotline anytime, any day, at 902-449-2425.
Anonymous calls can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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