Joint Community Safety Initiative results in 11 persons found to be working without valid work permits
CFN —The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Human Trafficking Unit, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Ottawa Bylaw Services completed a three-day Joint Community Safety Initiative focused on commercial massage parlours and body rub facilities from April 27 to 29, 2015.
Twenty locations were inspected in the City of Ottawa resulting in 11 Bylaw charges for improper licensing.
Eleven women were detained by the CBSA for immigration-related matters and all appeared for admissibility and detention hearings last week. The detentions were maintained for eleven individuals and all were issued removal orders. All eleven were found to be working without being in possession of a valid work permit under section 41 a), 30(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
The CBSA investigation is ongoing and additional charges may follow.
The Ottawa Police Human Trafficking Unit has opened a number of investigations, as a result of this initiative. Our goal continues to be the detection of possible cases of exploitation.