B.C. Launches 12-Member RCMP Unit to Combat Human Trafficking

British Columbia has established a new 12-member specialized Counter Human Trafficking Unit (CHTU) to enhance efforts against human trafficking across the province. The unit, funded through a $230-million provincial investment, is divided into two teams: one focused on educating police officers to identify and respond to human trafficking, and the other conducting investigations targeting organized crime networks. Minister of Public Safety Nina Krieger emphasized the importance of supporting victims while holding traffickers accountable, noting that human trafficking disproportionately affects women, Indigenous peoples, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Despite 43 reported incidents in 2023, officials acknowledge that human trafficking is significantly underreported, describing it as a complex and hidden crime requiring specialized skills. Chief Superintendent Elija Rain highlighted the challenges in prosecution and the unit's goal of rescue, removal, and multi-jurisdictional operations to strengthen law enforcement’s response. The province also invests substantially in frontline victim services and collaborates with community organizations to support survivors.