Durham Police laid 32 charges for underage sex crimes in 6 months

In a six month investigation of underage sex trafficking, Durham Police ended up arresting 10 suspects and laying 32 charges against them.

The investigation, dubbed Project Firebird, saw the police’s Human Trafficking Unit focus on suspects looking to buy sexual services from person under 18 years of age.

Among the crimes the police ended up pressing were Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration from a Person Under 18, Luring a Child for the Purpose of Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration from a Person Under 18 and Invitation to Sexual Touching Under 16 years of Age.

In one incident, a suspect was communicating with an undercover police operator over a span of five months. Eventually, he arranged to meet in Durham Region with the officer for the purpose of purchasing sexual services and traveled four hours for the hook-up sting.

Anyone with any new information about these incidents or other incidents, please contact the Detective Constable Eric Heron of the DRPS Human Trafficking Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5600.