6 accused in human and drug trafficking ring could be heading to trial

Court proceedings advance in the Project Chameleon trafficking investigation.

Lawyers for five men and one woman accused of being part of a human and drug trafficking ring by South Simcoe police appeared in a virtual courtroom Friday for a judicial pre-trial with the case expected to soon head to trial.

Three of the accused Jashyna Singh, Oneil Hopkinson and Tyrone Dias face human and drug trafficking charges. Three others: Hung Lam, Joseph Carvalho and Edgar Martinez remain out on bail. They are accused of human trafficking charges that include advertising, materially benefiting from and procuring persons for trafficking.

Hopkinson is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman police say was being pimped out of a home where investigators carried out a raid in November 2023.

Another man accused of drug trafficking and possession, Royden Reis, had his charges withdrawn by the Crown February in Barrie.

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South Simcoe police confirmed three women were safely removed from the Innisfil home. Police said $30,000 worth of drugs had been recovered including fentanyl, crystal meth, cocaine and pills believed to be oxycodone as part of the Project Chameleon operation.

South Simcoe police said investigators received an initial report of a woman being held in a home in Innisfil in May 2023 for the purpose of providing sexual services.

Publication bans imposed by the court protect-any evidence heard from being released along with the names of victims in the case.

The matter returns to court in two weeks when trial dates are expected to be put on the record. Allegations against the accused have not been tested in court.