Posted:
A man faces human trafficking charges after an investigation by the Special Enforcement Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.
On August 8, investigators commenced an investigation regarding a man who directed and influenced a 16-year-old girl for the purpose of prostitution. Officers in the Central Quick Response Unit arrest a man without incident yesterday at 8:35 p.m. outside a residence in the 2300 block of Maynard Street in Halifax.
Twenty-year-old Markeit Symonds of Halifax was held in custody overnight and is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court today. He has been charged with the following offences:
- Procuring a person (underage victim) to offer or provide sexual services for consideration
- Advertising an offer to provide sexual services for consideration
- Material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of 18
- Trafficking a person under the age of 18
- Human trafficking for material benefit
- Assault
- Uttering threats to cause bodily harm or death
Human trafficking is an offence that involves controlling, forcing, intimidating or deceiving a person in order to exploit them through various forms of sexual exploitation or forced labour. This crime can happen in communities of all sizes and unfortunately Halifax is not immune. If you have any information pertaining to this case or other potential human trafficking matters, please call 902-490-5020 or anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip - Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
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