Arrest Made in Human Trafficking Project, Project Blanco,Image released

Broadcast time: 8:00 AM
Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024
Unit: Sex Crimes
Phone: 416-808-7474
Case #: 2023-2635632


On August 30, 2023, the Human Trafficking Unit launched Project Blanco, an investigation into an alleged serial sex trafficker operating within the Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver areas. The ensuing police investigation was supported by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (ISJFS) and through funding provided by the Ontario Government, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
It is alleged that:

•  six female victims were sexually exploited for a commercial purpose at different periods or intervals from July 2018 to the present
•  in some instances, coercion, deception, manipulation, physical violence, and psychological harm were used to maintain control, direction, or influence over some of the victims
•  the money earned through the victims commercial sex acts throughout the offence period was turned over

On February 14, 2024, the investigators executed a search warrant in the Bathurst Street and Front Street West area. During the execution of the search warrant, items of evidentiary value were seized.
Joacquin "Hollywood Nise" Rowe, 38, of Toronto was arrested and charged with:

1.  six counts of Procuring/Exercising Control
2.  five counts of Material Benefit From Sexual Services
3.  five counts of Advertising Another Person's Sexual Services
4.  two counts of Trafficking In Persons
5.  two counts of Material Benefit Trafficking Persons Over 18
6.  Withhold Identity Documents
7.  Assault
8.  Material Benefit From Sexual Services
9.  Launder Proceeds Of Canadian Crime
10.  Possess Proceeds Of Property Or Thing Obtained By Crime In Canada Exceeding $5,000

He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 10 a.m., in room 301.
Police are concerned there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4838 or [email protected], Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or forced labour purpose. Victims can be any person, and can be moved across local, provincial or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends.

The Human Trafficking Unit of Sex Crimes is dedicated to investigating these crimes against vulnerable members of society. For more information, please visit the Sex Crimes website.

Police would like to encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report Human Trafficking occurrences to police. We want to make sure that everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, regardless of their decision to proceed criminally.
For more news, visit TPSNews.ca

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By Constable Sinderela Chung for Detective Alicia Murray