TORONTO — Police have arrested and charged two suspects in connection with a human trafficking investigation, one of whom police say is a real estate agent in the Greater Toronto Area.
Police executed a search warrant at a residence in the Stoney Creek community of Hamilton early Thursday morning after a victim came forward with allegations of human trafficking.
During the search of the home, police located evidence such as cell phones, computers and identification of additional women whom they believed to be additional victims.
Det.-Sgt. Brad Murray of Halton Regional Police’s Drug, Gun and Gang Unit, said investigators are following up with the other women they believe have been trafficked.
Andrew Gordon, 32, and Astra Mulawka, 29, were arrested on human trafficking related offences after a yearlong police investigation into Gordon.
“As of this morning, as we were going through the exhibits, observed information that would lead us to believe that he was trafficking females from coast to coast,” he said.
“It’s a major case and it’s actually just at the beginning so it’s going to be treated as a major investigation similar to a sexual assault or a homicide.”
Police confirmed Mulawka is a GTA real estate agent. Right at Home Realty Inc. lists Mulawka as a sales representative on its website.
“Her involvement in the human trafficking didn’t really come to light up until the last couple of months, it was somewhat unknown until yesterday,” said Murray.
“Further evidence obtained throughout the search warrant and interviews has led us to believe that she was much more involved than we originally believed.”
Mulawka’s personal website with the company appeared to have been taken down Friday at about 12:30 p.m., but the site said she has been in the real estate industry for almost a decade and that she focuses her business in the west end of the GTA — specifically Mississauga and Brampton.
Calls to Mulawka’s personal phone went unanswered and Right at Home Realty did not return calls for comment on the investigation.
“So far the investigation has revealed that the female accused was involved with certain victims. We have identified those victims,” Murray said.
“We do believe that there’s other victims out there and it will just take time going through the investigation, the evidence so far to identify that and connect the dots.”
Police said that Gordon, who goes by the nickname “President” or “Bush,” could have been involved with the trafficking of other women who police hope will come forward.
“We want to send his picture out to send a message to any female who was trafficked by him to come forward,” Murray said. “They should feel safe that he’s in custody and feel safe in order to provide a statement and we as the police will provide them with safety and protection.”
Police said Gordon has been charged with the following offences:
- Trafficking in persons
- Receiving financial/material benefit
- Exercise control
- Living on avails of prostitution
- Extortion
- Knowingly advertise and offer to provide sexual services
- Receiving material benefit
- Uttering threats
- Forcible confinement
- Assault
- Assault
Police said Gordon was held for a bail hearing and will appear in Milton court on Friday.
Astra Mulawka has been charged with the following offences:
- Trafficking in persons
- Receiving financial/material benefit
- Living on avails of prostitution
- Receiving material benefit
Mulawka will appear in Milton court on Nov. 2.
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