Durham police post online ad posing as a 15-year-old selling ‘sexual services.’ Now 12 men face charges - Toronto Star

The men attempted to purchase 'sexual services' and arrange meetings with minor, police allege. 

An online advertisement of Durham police posing as a 15-year-old selling “sexual services” has resulted in dozens of charges against 12 men who investigators allege attempted to arrange meetings with a minor. 

The advertisement, placed online over the span of 10 days in October, was a “proactive enforcement initiative” of a human trafficking investigation called Project Firebird, during which police say the advertisement received more than 8,000 views. 

The age of the person in the advertisement was “made clear through online communication,” Det. Sgt. Michael Naccarato told reporters at a press conference at Durham police headquarters in Whitby on Thursday. 

“Despite this, several individuals continued communicating and arranged to meet with someone that they believed to be a 15-year-old child,” he said. 

Police said they’re not sharing any information on where the advertisement was distributed online and did not disclose how often they use this type of investigative technique. 

“We will continue to use appropriate proactive investigative techniques to protect vulnerable youth, disrupt human trafficking and exploitation, and hold those responsible for criminal activity accountable,” wrote a Durham police spokesperson in an email to the Star.

All 12 men, ranging in ages between 64 and 22, are identified as living within the Toronto region or nearby towns. The men have been charged with luring a person for the purpose of obtaining sexual services under 18, obtaining sexual services under 18 and invitation to sexual touching under 16. 

This operation was part of a larger effort to combat human trafficking and related offences in Durham region, said deputy Chief Ryan Connolly. 

“When children and youth are at risk, we have a responsibility to act and wherever possible, we need to act before exploitation occurs and further harm is done. That is why prevention and proactive policing are so important,” said Connolly. 

Connolly said that the human trafficking unit of Durham Regional investigated 175 incidents that involved “elements of human trafficking” from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31. 

Megan Mills Devoe is a staff reporter with the Star. Reach her via email: mmillsdevoe@thestar.ca