According to Calgary police, teenage girls were targeted for sexual exploitation

WARNING: This article contains disturbing details and may affect those who have survived sexual exploitation or know someone who has.

Police have charged a 21-year-old Calgary man after a human trafficking investigation revealed teenage girls were being targeted in the city.

The investigation, led by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), found youth were sexually exploited and forced into sexual activity.

“We believe the defendant targeted young, vulnerable teenage girls, forced them into sexual situations, controlled their movements, advertised sexual services and took their money,” said Cpl. Wayne Williams of the ALERT human trafficking unit said in a press release.

ALERT is working with a 15-year-old victim and is seeking further information from other members of the public.

The ALERT team provides all “necessary support and resources” to the victim and encourages other survivors to contact them with any relevant information.

“We believe this has already happened in the past year and we have reason to believe he may have preyed on others,” Williams said. “We want to reassure other survivors that it is safe to come forward and that their information is valuable.”

The defendant, whose next court date will be June 16, has been accused of multiple offenses including:

• Sexual interference.

• Material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18 years of age.

• Drug trafficking.

• Production of child pornography.

• Distribution of child pornography.

• Blackmail through threats.

The Calgary Police Service’s Child Abuse Unit is also involved in the investigation, which began in March.

Theresa Jenkins, executive director of the Reset Society of Calgary, an organization that supports girls and women survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse, says raising awareness about difficult issues like human trafficking and sexual abuse is critical.

“Everyone should be aware of this,” Jenkins said. “It can happen to anyone… there is no stereotypical person (this) happens to.”

She added that perpetrators often use threats and other manipulative tactics to target victims.

“Someone sees that they are vulnerable. Someone is taking advantage of this,” she said.

Support is available for survivors of sexual assault. You can access crisis hotlines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you are in danger and need immediate assistance, call 911.