BC Government Says New Police Unit Will Combat Human Trafficking in Province

An RCMP collar tab pin is seen in Edmonton, on Feb. 5, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

The Government of British Columbia has announced a new provincial response team to combat human trafficking.

The 12-person team, dubbed the counter human trafficking unit (CHTU), will focus on the detection, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking crimes, including targeting organized crime networks in the province. It will also expand support for victims of human trafficking, the province said.

B.C. Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger called the move a “significant step forward” in the province’s efforts to help victims of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking occurs in all areas of our province, and we all have a role to play in helping to prevent these horrific crimes,” she said.

“The creation of this new unit marks a significant step forward in our government’s efforts to assist police in identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking, while also strengthening evidence-gathering to ensure those responsible for these crimes are held accountable.”

The CHTU will work with police departments to train officers in investigation and intelligence gathering, the government said.

Funding for the team will come from $230 million earmarked for the RCMP provincial police service in B.C. to hire more officers for specialized units such as the major crime section, the internet child exploitation unit, and the BC Highway Patrol.

RCMP Chief Supt. Elija Rain said human trafficking is a complex and hidden crime that requires specialized skill and resources.

“From education to detection, investigation, prosecution and working closely with policing and community partners, the creation of this dedicated team strengthens our overall response to human trafficking in every corner of B.C.,” Rain said.

The province said 43 human trafficking incidents were reported to police in 2023, but the actual number could be higher because human trafficking is “significantly under-reported.”

A StatCan report released in November 2024 said the number of human trafficking cases in Canada has increased nearly 400 percent over the past 10 years.

The Trafficking in Persons in Canada, 2023 report noted that while the number of reported cases has dropped since 2022, there has been an increase over the past decade.

In 2023, police reported 570 human trafficking incidents across the country, down from the 597 reported in 2022, the report said.

However, StatCan data shows a 396 percent increase in the number of cases since 2013, when 115 cases of human trafficking were reported.

A total of 4,500 human trafficking incidents were reported to police between 2013 and 2023, StatCan said.

The agency said human trafficking is “hidden and underreported” and requires police resources and expertise, as well as victims’ ability to “recognize and report” their experiences with trafficking.