A recent RCMP operation targeting people looking to buy sexual services is being described by police as an anti-human trafficking initiative, drawing questions from a Vancouver sex workers’ advocacy group. Police say the March 12 operation involved Richmond RCMP and the B.C. Counter Human Trafficking Unit, a 12-member provincial response team launched in July 2025. Undercover officers communicated with more than 100 people who were attempting to arrange transactions through online platforms, according to an RCMP release issued Tuesday. Mounties say “multiple arrests” were made, with all individuals released pending further investigation. It’s unclear how many people were arrested, or whether they will face charges. Police described the initiative as part of broader efforts to “disrupt demand” for sexual services, which they link to human trafficking and exploitation. The release notes that independent, voluntary sex work exists in B.C. but emphasizes that purchasing sexual services remains illegal under Canadian law. “When you seek sexual services online, you have no way of knowing who you are communicating with, it could be a police officer, or it could be a vulnerable victim of human trafficking,” CHTU-BC Insp. Lyndsay O’Ruairc said in Tuesday’s release. “By creating demand, you are directly contributing to the harm and exploitation that fuels this industry.” Concerns over conflating trafficking and sex work Advocates for sex workers question whether the RCMP has evidence that targeting clients of sex work reduces trafficking. “I do think that they’re using human trafficking language as a guise for what this operation is—which is anti-sex work.” Angela Wu, the executive director of Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network Vancouver, told CTV News Wednesday. She says SWAN was repeatedly told by the province and RCMP that this new unit’s focus would be on identifying trafficking cases and supporting victims, rather than targeting sex work. “This news release has really made it clear that the intent of this counter human trafficking unit is to target sex workers, which directly contradicts provincial sex worker enforcement guidelines.” B.C.’s sex work enforcement guidelines In 2017, the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police adopted Sex Work Enforcement Guidelines and Principles, which were shaped by the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, following the Robert Pickton investigation. These guidelines stress that the safety of people involved in sex work is a key priority, that they must be treated with dignity and respect, and that enforcement decisions should be guided by risk and safety considerations. Wu argues that criminalizing clients puts sex workers’ safety at risk. “If clients are more skittish or think that there’s more attention being put on to them, they might ask workers to make concessions, or withhold information about themselves, which could prevent workers from reporting a potential assault,” she explained. Wu argues that operations like the one by CHTU-BC and Richmond RCMP mischaracterize sex work as inherently exploitive. “When that is the focus and premise, it allows law enforcement to think they are protecting sex workers, but you can’t effectively protect workers when the work is criminalized,” said Wu, adding that immigrant and migrant sex workers often get swept up in police anti-trafficking operations. “If the goal of this unit is to identify sex trafficking victims, how does posing as sex workers and going after buyers do that?” RCMP clarifies goals of operation In a statement to CTV News Wednesday, an RCMP spokesperson clarified that the goal of this operation was not to identify victims of human trafficking, but rather those who would seek the sexual services from minors who might be getting exploited or trafficked. “Victims of human trafficking and exploitation are identified through other investigative means,” said Staff Sgt. Kris Clark of the B.C. RCMP. Clark acknowledged the potential for confusion, noting that there is often “no specific delineation” between those seeking sexual services of exploitation victims and clients of consenting sex workers. “The crossover between the two groups makes it difficult to fully disconnect them within our communications, but when you read our news release from that perspective, I believe the distinction becomes clear,” said Clark. The RCMP also clarified that the goal of their public communications is to warn individuals seeking sexual services that they’re at risk of being arrested and charged. “Ultimately, the deterrence we create… is an immeasurable and important part of preventing human trafficking and exploitation,” said Clark. “Without consumerism, there is no need for sexual exploitation. And while we will never remove consumerism entirely by these projects, deterring some from engaging makes human sex trafficking less lucrative.” CTV News has asked the RCMP for the number of arrests and will update this article if a response is received. When it comes to charges, Clark says approval rests with the B.C. Prosecution Service, making it too early to say what charges, if any, may result.
