Update 2 – 18-Year-Old Male Arrested in Connection with Ongoing Human Trafficking Investigation

By Niagara Regional Police Service - Jul 15, 2026

Media Releases

Detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) have continued their investigation into the trafficking of a woman within the Niagara Region which began in May of 2026. Detectives identified a fourth male suspect.

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, HTU detectives, along with the assistance of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Surete Du Quebec (SQ) arrested, 18-year-old Chaundre RICHARDS, of Port Colborne, at the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Montreal.

RICHARDS is charged with the following criminal offences:

Trafficking in Persons
Procuring
Utter Threats
Forced Marriage
Procuring Feigned Marriage

RICHARDS remains in custody and has been transported back to the Niagara Region to attend a bail hearing scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in the City of St. Catharines.

Detectives believe that there may be other victims and are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim or knows of anyone who has had an interaction with RICHARDS to contact them at (905) 688-4111, option 3, extension 1029548. Police believe RICHARDS to go by “SAINT” and a known event promoter in Southern Ontario.

Survivors of Human Trafficking are encouraged to contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010 or on the internet CLICK HERE. This is a 24/7 confidential support resource available in over 200 languages.

Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals, or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or forced labour purpose. Victims can be men, women, or children; can be Canadian citizens; and can be moved across local, provincial, or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends.

For more information about community support options for survivors of Human Trafficking and the Niagara Regional Police Service’s efforts to combat Human Trafficking CLICK HERE.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

NRPS Incident 26-64065, 26-63472

Update #1- SECOND ARREST: London Man Facing Human Trafficking Charges

As a result of the ongoing human trafficking investigation, a second suspect was identified.

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, members of the Niagara Regional Police Human Trafficking Unit (HTU), with assistance from 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) Street Crime Unit (SCU) arrested the suspect in the area of Queenston Street and Niagara Street in the City of St Catharines.

29-year-old Joshua SHIRLEY of St. Catharines is charged with the following criminal offences:

· Trafficking in Persons

· Procuring

· Utter Threats

· Forced Marriage

SHIRLEY remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.

Detectives believe that there may be other victims and are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim, or knows of anyone who has had an interaction with SHIRLEY to contact them at (905) 688-4111, dial option 3, ext 1029548.

Survivors of Human Trafficking are encouraged to contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010 or on the internet CLICK HERE. This is a 24/7 confidential support resource available in over 200 languages.

Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals, or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or forced labour purpose. Victims can be men, women, or children; can be Canadian citizens; and can be moved across local, provincial, or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends.

For more information about community support options for survivors of Human Trafficking and the Niagara Regional Police Service’s efforts to combat Human Trafficking CLICK HERE.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

NRPS Incident 26-63472, 26-64065

Original Media Release:

In May 2026 detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) began an investigation into the trafficking of a woman within the Niagara Region and identified a male suspect.

Following an investigation by detectives with the HTU, with assistance from the Emergency Task Unit (ETU) and uniform officers from 3 District (Welland/Pelham), a male suspect was arrested on Tuesday May 26, 2026.

As a result of the investigation, 26-year-old ANSHUL, of London, Ontario, has been charged with the following Criminal Code offence:

Trafficking in Persons, contrary to section 279.01

ANSHUL remains in custody pending a bail hearing on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in the City of St. Catharines.

Detectives believe that there may be other victims and are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim, or knows of anyone who has had an interaction with ANSHUL to contact them at (905) 688-4111, dial option 3, ext 1029548. It is believed that ANSHUL also resided in the City of Brampton until recently.

Survivors of Human Trafficking are encouraged to contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010 or on the internet CLICK HERE. This is a 24/7 confidential support resource available in over 200 languages.

Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals, or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or forced labour purpose. Victims can be men, women, or children; can be Canadian citizens; and can be moved across local, provincial, or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends.

For more information about community support options for survivors of Human Trafficking and the Niagara Regional Police Service’s efforts to combat Human Trafficking CLICK HERE.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

Inc 26-63472, 26-64065