A Nova Scotia man is facing a slew of charges, as part of a human trafficking investigation in the Halifax region involving five victims — some of whom were youths.
Halifax Regional Police said they received a report “of human trafficking that was occurring in the region” in January of this year.
On April 28, investigators searched a residence in Halifax, arrested a suspect and seized some electronic devices, police said in a news release.
Adam Ray Greenlaw, 40, has been charged in relation to incidents that happened between May 2021 and April 2023.
According to police, he was charged with:
- Trafficking in persons (x2)
- Human trafficking for material benefit (x2)
- Human trafficking for material benefit of a young person
- Sexual assault (x5)
- Sexual interference (x2)
- Procuring of a young person (x2)
- Procuring
- Advertising sexual services
- Printing and publishing of child pornography
- Assault with a weapon
- Unlawful confinement
- Uttering threats
At a court appearance May 3, new information was laid and a single count of procuring of a young person was withdrawn. He is due back in court May 10 for a bail hearing.
“We certainly feel that it’s a significant case and we’re glad that we’re able to lay these charges and bring this individual before the courts,” said Const. John MacLeod, a spokesperson for Halifax Regional Police.
As serious as the charges are, they’re not surprising to advocates such as Dametre Samuels, the YWCA’s Trafficking and Exploitation Service System (TESS) coordinator.
“This stuff happens a lot more than (what) gets talked about in the media and the public,” she said. “We have more human trafficking in Nova Scotia, per capita, than anywhere in Canada.”
She says factors such as poverty, family violence, housing and food insecurity, as well as mental health and addictions can all play a role in human trafficking.
“If we don’t make this a public health crisis and we don’t address the reasons for the vulnerabilities and the risk factors, and we don’t put a stop to what’s causing the problem,” Samuels said, “then we’re always going to be putting a Band-Aid on the problem.”
Still, the need for more work in the anti-human trafficking sector has been highlighted for several years and some non-profits are working to address it the best they can, she said.
She said several new programs have been created through partnerships.
“We’re constantly working on, not only improving the prosecution … we also have public education and we’re starting to see that trickle down through the schools.”
She said they’re also making sure parents, social services, foster care and police are up to date.
“We are seeing a big difference,” she added. “There’s so much support rallying around this fight now, where 10 years ago, this was something that we didn’t talk about and nobody was doing (anything).”
Halifax Regional Police encourage anyone who is the victim of human trafficking, or know a victim, to reach out for support. The Nova Scotia Human Trafficking Team is available 24/7 at 902-449-2425. People can also call 911 if there is an immediate concern, or Crime Stoppers.
“Members of the Human Trafficking Team will work with community partners to support victims, address their specific needs and get them to safety,” police noted.
“Victims will be treated with dignity and respect and their safety will remain our primary goal. We want to assure victims that the decision to participate in the investigation is theirs and we will respect their wishes.”
Senior Crown attorney Josie McKinney, who is the province’s dedicated attorney for human trafficking offences, acknowledged that reporting these crimes is not easy for victims.
“It’s very challenging for any person who survives human trafficking to come forward,” McKinney said.
“You’re obviously talking about incredibly traumatizing events and sharing those with authorities, so trust is a big part of being able to come forward.”