A woman has been charged with 14 offences following an extensive human trafficking investigation by the Langley RCMP Serious Crime Section.
In the spring of 2023, Langley RCMP Serious Crime Section began an investigation into allegations of human trafficking.
On March 7, Langley RCMP received a 9-1-1 call from a gas station near a hotel in the 20400-block of 88 Avenue in the Township of Langley. The attendant reported that an injured, distressed adult female walked in and asked to call police. Frontline officers responded and while providing first aid to the woman, were directed to the nearby hotel. This investigation led to a charge of assault being filed against Jennifer Lynn Stephens.
In July, Stephens was scheduled to appear in court on the Langley charges but failed to attend and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for her arrest.
Langley Serious Crime investigators continued to gather evidence to support charges making submissions to the BC Prosecution Service. On December 7, Langley Serious Crime Investigators located and arrested Stephens on her outstanding warrants.
Stephens remains in custody facing numerous criminal charges including trafficking in persons; material benefit – trafficking a person under 18 years (two counts); material benefit from sexual services of a person under 18 years; procuring – person under 18 years (two counts); forcible confinement; assault causing bodily harm; assault with a weapon (two counts); utter threats; trafficking of a person under 18 years; material benefit from sexual services; advertising sexual services.
“Due to the often hidden nature and complexity of these offences, human trafficking charges are rare in Canada,” said Inspector Erica Moir, Operations Support Officer of Langley RCMP. “Our investigators worked closely with partners allowing us to support the victims, identify a suspect and successfully obtain the evidence necessary forward criminal charges.”
Based on the complexity of this investigation and multiple offences committed in multiple locations, Langley RCMP investigators sought assistance from the Surrey RCMP, Vancouver Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit, RCMP E Division Behavioural Sciences Unit, RCMP Digital Forensic Services, and Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) Interview Team.
“Their assistance was invaluable,” said Moir.
Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons, or the control of their movements, for the purpose of exploitation. Typically, victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation or forced labour. In this case, in Langley, it is alleged that victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation.
Moir said: “If you or a loved one are a victim of human trafficking, or you believe someone else is, please know you are not alone and there is help available.”
You can call your local police department, you can call the 24-hour Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 or you can reach out to The Canadian Centre To End Human Trafficking.
