British Columbia is strengthening its fight against human trafficking with a new Counter Human Trafficking Unit (CHTU), a specialized 12-member team dedicated to improving the province’s response to this serious crime.
The CHTU will enhance detection, investigation, and prosecution efforts, working alongside police departments and community agencies. The unit focuses on intelligence gathering, officer training, and supporting criminal prosecutions to disrupt organized trafficking networks operating across B.C.
Minister of Public Safety Nina Krieger emphasized the unit’s role in holding traffickers accountable while providing critical support for victims. The unit is funded through a $230-million provincial investment that also supports other specialized policing units.
Human trafficking often goes undetected and disproportionately affects women, Indigenous peoples, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. In 2023, 43 incidents were reported, though experts believe many cases go unreported.
The Province also invests over $60 million annually in front-line victim services, including sexual assault centres and multilingual crisis lines like VictimLink BC. Support organizations such as Illuminate Anti-Human Trafficking Programs and PLEA Community Services collaborate closely with police to aid survivors.
For confidential help, victims and concerned community members can contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline or VictimLink BC.
