DUNDURN – The Saskatchewan RCMP Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit (HTCEU), part of the Saskatchewan Law Enforcement Response Teams (SERT), and Detachment Saskatoon RCMP have laid several charges against a man following a human trafficking investigation that began in Dundurn.

On October 23 at approximately 5:15 a.m., Saskatoon RCMP responded to a business in Dundurn to report a kidnapping.

Officers responded and found a woman from Ontario inside the business. The initial investigation revealed that she was being held against her will. Officers contacted HTCEU investigators, who opened a human trafficking investigation. HTCEU investigators determined that the woman was forcibly taken to Toronto and that human trafficking took place in various locations in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Following the investigation, Pierre André Bouchard, 51, of Chambly, QC, is charged with: human trafficking; trafficking in persons – material benefit; sequestration; sexual assault; sexual assault with another weapon; material benefit from sexual services; obtain sexual services for payment; pimping; make threats against a person; armed assault; failing to comply with the probation order; identity theft; and possession of property obtained by crime worth more than $5,000.

Bouchard was arrested by the Saskatoon Police Service on October 23. He appeared in Saskatoon provincial court on October 24 and made a second appearance in Saskatoon on October 28. Bouchard was remanded in custody for his next court appearance in Saskatoon on October 28. 5.

Saskatoon RCMP Saskatchewan Detachment, Yorkton Saskatchewan Anti-Trafficking Response Team, Saskatoon General Investigation Section, Saskatoon Police Service VICE Unit and Victim Services, Regina Police Service VICE Unit, Toronto Police Service and Brandon Police Service contributed continuing this investigation, in collaboration with other community partners.

If you have any information about this or any other incident of human trafficking, or if you or someone you know may be a victim, call 310-GRC.

How to recognize and report human trafficking

“Human trafficking affects communities of all sizes, not just urban centers. It’s a reality that exists in towns big and small, including here in Saskatchewan,” said Insp. Jeff Smoliak, lead investigator with the RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT).

“It is also a crime that has no borders. That’s why the Saskatchewan RCMP works interjurisdictionally to investigate these complex cases and works closely with municipal police services and partners across the country.

Saskatchewan RCMP are reminding the public that anyone can be a target for human trafficking. Victims may be trafficked by someone they know: a former or current partner, family member, friend or someone they trust. Recruitment tactics can be subtle; Victims often don’t even know they are being trafficked.

Traffickers can approach potential victims by:

• pretend to be a potential lover, friend or support person;
• connect on social media or in person;
• offer gifts or money;
• introduction of drugs or alcohol; Or
• threatening loved ones of potential victims if they do not comply.

Additional information on recognizing human trafficking can be found here.

In addition to contacting the RCMP, the public can also contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010. This hotline is confidential, available 24/7 and offers services in more than 200 languages.

Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers,