40-year-old Toronto woman charged in human trafficking investigation
Posted July 11, 2022 11:36 pm.
Toronto police have arrested a woman in connection to an ongoing human trafficking investigation stemming from April.
Police say a woman allegedly recruited Mexican nationals with the promise of coming to Canada for work and housing, and when they arrived, the woman took their travel documents and lodged them in several homes in the city. Police also allege the woman exploited their immigration status, facilitated their employment, and garnished their wages.
One of the alleged victims was also assaulted and threatened by the woman, police say.
Last Wednesday, police say two search warrants were executed, one in the York Mills Road and Bayview Avenue area and in the Birchmount Road and Lawrence Avenue East area.
Police say 40-year-old Luz Adriana Gonzalez Valbuena of Toronto has been arrested and is facing multiple charges, including trafficking in persons, material benefit, withhold documents, possession of property obtained by crime, threaten death, and assault.
Valbuena appeared in count on Thursday, July 7.
Officers say they’ve made contact with more than 40 potential witnesses and victims, adding they believe there could be more alleged victims.
“Police would like to encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report Human Trafficking occurrences to police,” officers say in a statement, “We want to make sure that everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, regardless of their decision to proceed criminally.”
News Release – Arrest made in Human Trafficking Investigation, Luz Adriana Gonzalez Valbuena, 40, Photograph Releasedhttps://t.co/OZSbTjZZZB pic.twitter.com/oSEKXpIMU4
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) July 11, 2022
