Armed Ont. man linked to months-long human trafficking investigation arrested

A 33-year-old man from North Bay, Ont., was arrested on Tuesday following a twisted human trafficking investigation that began in Barrie in November 2024.

Investigators believe that there may be additional human trafficking victims that have not yet reported their involvement with the accused to police.

The suspect, Marquis Clark, who was allegedly in possession of a loaded firearm at the time of his arrest, is facing a laundry list of drug- and weapons-related charges, including assault with a weapon, trafficking in people, material benefit from sexual services, uttering threats to cause death, possession of the substance cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, and a handful of other charges.

Detectives from Barrie’s Service’s Human Trafficking Unit were assisted throughout the months-long probe by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence–Led Joint Forces Strategy and by the North Bay Police Service.

Police say Clark was taken to Barrie Police Headquarters on Tuesday and remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

If you are a victim, you are encouraged to contact Detective Const. Salmon of the Barrie Police Human Trafficking Unit by phone at 705-725-7025, extension 2637.

The allegations against him have not been tested in court.