Human trafficking victims in Moncton were girls missing from Ontario: RCMP

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The RCMP say two girls recently rescued after human trafficking investigation in Moncton had been reported missing in Ontario.

Saphira Bastien, 18, of Dieppe, also known as Sassou according to court documents, had appeared in Moncton provincial court last week, charged with two counts of trafficking girls under the age of 18.

The charges specify she allegedly exercised control over the movements of the girls for the purpose of facilitating their exploitation in Dieppe between April 9-14 in one charge and April 9-16 in the other.

Bastien is also charged with making child pornography by taking photos for a sexual purpose of a person who’s under 18 between April 9-14 and knowingly advertising an offer online to provide sexual services.

The Crown objected to the accused‘s release during her first appearance and again on Friday, and a publication ban was put in place to prevent the reporting of anything that would identify the complainants in the case. The accused has also been ordered to have no contact with a long list of people.

The RCMP issued more detail in a news release Wednesday, saying the two girls and a woman were rescued during the investigation.

The RCMP said Codiac Regional RCMP members received a call requesting a wellbeing check on a girl on April 12 at a residence on Ward Street in Moncton. Police said they discovered the girl had been reported missing in Ontario.

Police said that on April 16, they received a call requesting assistance at a residence in Dieppe where they found another girl who had also been reported as missing in Ontario, and was also believed to be a victim of human trafficking.

Police said a woman from Quebec was also a victim of human trafficking at the residence, and arrested an 18-year-old woman at the scene.