Close to a residence for young individuals in Moncton, a person anticipates the emergence of the residents during their leisure time.
This individual is informed about the specific time when youths under provincial government care are permitted to leave the residence, as shared by Maggie.
Maggie, a support staff member at Community of Hope in Moncton, which aids human trafficking victims, has opted to use only her first name for safety considerations.
Human trafficking is defined as the act of exerting control over someone to exploit them for personal gain.
Youth under the province’s care are particularly susceptible to human trafficking, according to authorities and service providers. The CBC’s Savannah Awde presents the story in the series Left Behind.
The trafficker gradually learns what the youth desire the most and ensures to provide it, aiming to establish trust with the youth, as explained by Maggie.
“When teenagers are out, they might say, ‘Hey, want a cigarette? … I’ll take you shopping and buy you new clothes’,” mentioned Maggie during an interview.
For a young person lacking a stable home environment or who has been relocated from their home for care, this individual can offer a feeling of security and belonging, according to Maggie.
She highlighted that the individual systematically addresses the youth’s necessities, making the perilous situation appear comforting over time.
“By providing gifts and fulfilling their survival needs, it becomes quite simple for [youth] to fall into this trap,” she added.
Police Monitoring Youth Trafficking Concerns
The vulnerability of group home youth is recognized by law enforcement in New Brunswick.
In a recent case at the Court of King’s Bench, an officer from the Saint John Police Department testified regarding the extent of this issue.
A summary of the officer’s testimony is outlined in a decision issued by Justice Danys R.X. Delaquis in March.
The decision noted that the officer described human trafficking as “prevalent” and
