RCMP say the man at the centre of human sex trafficking charges in this province has a history of similar behaviour that dates back 15 years.
Thirty-five-year-old Dominic Delisle was singled out among four people charged in Project Badminton, a crackdown on a crime network operating mostly on the west coast of Newfoundland.
All four face drug and firearms charges, but Delisle is the only one accused of sex trafficking or pimping young girls and women for profit.
So far only one victim is involved, but RCMP Insp. Stefan Thoms says there’s good reason to believe there are more out there.
He notes Delisle is alleged to have been involved in such activity for at least the past 15 years, adding other victims have been identified and the accused showed no signs of changing career paths.
Delisle appeared in provincial court earlier this week and remains in custody until his next court appearance on September 27.
Meanwhile, five months after its funding was cut by the federal government, the RCMP couldn’t say enough about Thrive and its Blue Door program yesterday.
Blue Door provides a full suite of supports for survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking including housing, food security, employment, education and health.
But its five-year federal funding ran out in February, forcing a cut in staff and the number of clients they can take on.
That’s despite the program’s importance, as confirmed yesterday by Const. Colleen Noble, the RCMP’s lead on human trafficking in the province.
She commended Blue Door for the work it does to support victims, adding the RCMP also appreciates the help and information provided to assist with Project Badminton.
Thrive executive director Angela Crockwell is confident that kind of shout-out can only help get its funding restored and all staff re-hired.
She hopes it will raise awareness of the true definition and existence of human trafficking in the province, and the increasingly critical role that Blue Door plays.
Crockwell says Blue Door has secured other funding and donations that should keep the program running for at least another year.
