A big day for the human trafficking enforcement initiative; twelve individuals have been arrested in connection with attempting to solicit sex from teens.
Over 10 days in October 2026, investigators conducted Project Firebird, a proactive enforcement initiative targeting individuals seeking to purchase sexual services from persons they believed to be 15 years of age. As part of the initiative, our investigators placed an online advertisement targeting individuals seeking to purchase sexual services from a person represented to be 15 years old. The advertisement received more than 8,000 views.
The investigation resulted in numerous individuals attempting to arrange meetings for sexual services with someone they believed to be a minor. As a result of the investigation, 12 individuals were arrested and face 36 Criminal Code charges and one Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charge.
The individuals arrested are:
- A 64 year old man from Markham.
- A 49 year old man from Simcoe
- A 43 year old man from Scarborough
- A 39 year old from Ajax
- A 40 year old man from Brampton
- A 41 year old man from Ajax
- A 36 year old man from Whitby
- A 22 year old man from Oshawa
- A 49 year old man from Scarborough
- A 29 year old man from Clarington
- A 46 year old man from Oshawa
- A 42 year old man from Clarington
Name and further details available at www.drps.ca.
Project Firebird demonstrates the ongoing demand for the sexual exploitation of children online and highlights the importance of proactive investigative techniques in identifying offenders before harm can occur. DRPS remains committed to protecting vulnerable youth, disrupting human trafficking and child exploitation networks, and holding offenders accountable.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Human Trafficking Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5600.
The DRPS thanks the Ontario Government for its funding support of our Children at Risk of Exploitation (CARE) unit. Our CARE unit combines the expertise of police officers and child
protection workers to identify, investigate, locate and engage with children and youth at high risk of child sex trafficking. If you or someone you know has been affected by human trafficking, please come forward to our investigators for support. The Region of Durham has established a support network for survivors, accessible through www.stopht.com. Parents and caregivers can also use this resource to educate children about recognizing the signs of human trafficking.
Victim Services of Durham Region offers confidential support without judgement here.
Editor’s Note: Durham Post does not name the accused parties as:
1. Of this time, they are suspect[s] and not convicted by a court, and
2. Sometimes charges are amended or dropped.
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