LPS Chief

By Connor Gunn/LethbridgeNewsNow

Lethbridge Police charge 10 males in human trafficking investigation

Aug 13, 2021 | 2:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – 10 people in Lethbridge have been charged in connection with an alleged human trafficking operation.

The Lethbridge Police Service, in collaboration with the RCMP, the Calgary Police Service, and ALERT’s Human Trafficking Counter Exploitation unit, say the accused range from 16-37 years old.

Police say the 10 individuals are believed to be responsible for the sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and trafficking of an underaged girl.

During the course of the investigation, police first learned that a 15-year-old girl had been allegedly selected, groomed, and brought to specific locations where the offences took place.

Police have “learned the same individuals had also engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old victim. As our investigation continues, the numbers of victims, at this point, have not been confirmed,” the release reads.

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The accused range from youth, “to a business owner to a physician,” Police say.

LPS have charged the following individuals in connection with this investigation:

Fadi (Stawi) Chtewi, 20, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• two counts of sexual assault
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person (more than one person involved in the sex assault)
• two counts of aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18

Abdulla Mohammed, 19, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• two counts of sexual assault
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• two counts of aggravated assault
• trafficking persons under 18

Mohammad Neirabani, 22, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• sexual assault
• sexual assault causing bodily harm
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18
• child luring

Mahmoud Nirabani, 20, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• two counts of sexual assault
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• two counts of aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18

Ziyaad Noor, 37, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• sexual assault
• sexual assault causing bodily harm
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18

Mohammad Zafari, 20, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• two counts of sexual assault
• sexual assault – party to an offence with another person
• aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18

A 17-year-old male, who cannot be identified, faces charges of:

• two counts of sexual assault
• sexual assault causing bodily harm
• two counts of sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• trafficking persons under 18
• child luring.

A 16-year-old male, who cannot be identified, faces charges of:

• sexual assault
• sexual assault causing bodily harm
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18

Arrest warrants have been issued for the following:

Meriton Krasniqi, 26, faces charges of:

• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• two counts of sexual assault
• sexual assault causing bodily harm
• sexual assault – party to offence with another person
• aggravated sexual assault
• trafficking persons under 18

Khaled Alsaid, 22, faces charges of:

• sexual assault
• invitation to sexual touching
• sexual interference

Police ask anyone with information on the alleged incidents and anything in relation to this investigation to contact Acting Sgt. Bryan Whelpley, at 403-330-5167.

“Police encourage you to reach out to the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010.”