Lethbridge police lay charges in alleged human trafficking ring

By Herald on August 13, 2021.

Acting Insp. Pete Christos of the LPS Criminal Investigation Section announces on Friday 10 men from Lethbridge and Calgary have been charged as part of an alleged human trafficking ring which sexually exploited girls under the age of 18. Herald photo by Tim Kalinowski

Tim Kalinowski – Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Police Service has charged 10 Lethbridge and Calgary men, including a Lethbridge physician and business owner, with human trafficking following an investigation conducted in partnership with the RCMP, the Calgary Police Service and Alert’s Human Trafficking Counter Exploitation unit.

According to police, the men are members of an alleged human trafficking ring which sexually exploited girls under the age of 18.

Fadi Chtewi, 20, Abdulla Mohammed, 19, Mohammad Neiribani, 22, Mahmoud Nirabani, 20, Mohammad Zafari, 20, Meriton Krasniqi, 26, Ziyaad Noor, 37, Khaled Alsaid, 22, and two minors aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named, all face multiple charges including sexual interference, sexual assault and trafficking a person under the age of 18 years.

According to the LPS the two victims identified so far are 15 and 13-years-old.

Police first learned that a 15-year-old female had been selected, groomed and brought to specific locations where the offences took place. These individuals had arranged for the transportation of the victim to locations where the offences took place. The victim often did not know the details of the pre-arranged meetings, police confirmed.

Members of the Criminal Investigation Section subsequently learned the same individuals had also engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old victim, the details of which are still under investigation.

Acting Insp. Pete Christos, in charge of the Criminal Investigation Section, says he does not yet know how many more victims will be identified before long.

“The numbers of victims,” he said, “at this point, have not been confirmed.”

When asked if he had specific numbers of potential victims, Christos said there would likely be “multiple” victims.

“At this point it is too early to state, but as the investigation continues we are getting more and more information,” Christos said.

Christos confirmed the investigation started late last week after one of the victims came forward. He credited the courage of this young woman for exposing the alleged human trafficking ring.

“It is the courage of the individual who stepped forward, and reported it to police. And once we got the details, our Criminal Investigation Section took carriage of the file.”

Christos said the victims in these types of cases are usually targeted and groomed before being trafficked, and he encouraged other victims experiencing this type of exploitation in Lethbridge to come forward to police.

“They are being targeted, groomed, and potentially recruited,” Christos explained. “Oftentimes you will see this in public locations such as malls, and other venues such as social media sites and so on. From there what basically happens is they (the traffickers) try to create trust between the victim to the point where they feel that joining them in social events is not a concern until they realize what’s going on.”

The alleged offences in this case took place in both Lethbridge and Calgary, Christos confirmed, and the victims are receiving whatever assistance they require after their traumatic experiences.

“They are in a safe place right now, and they are being looked after,” he stated.

Two of the individuals charged have still not been apprehended. Warrants have been issued for Khaled Alsaid and Meriton Krasniqi.

Mayor Chris Spearman said when he heard the first reports of these human trafficking charges in Lethbridge he felt the sickening fear many parents feel when they think their own child could be placed in these circumstances.

“I think a lot of people might have thought before today that this isn’t the type of thing that happens in Lethbridge, but the reality is it is happening in Lethbridge,” Spearman stated. “It is one of the most under-reported crimes. We do want to encourage victims to come forward, and we want them to feel safe doing so. And we want to make sure that we can continue to be a safer city by working together.

“I am shocked and very disappointed that there are people in our community, professional people, engaged in this type of activity,” he added.

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