It was after two women pleaded to York Region police for help that the investigation began, leading to more than 300 charges and 31 people arrested in a human trafficking and organized crime bust dubbed Project Convalesce.

In October 2018, police received a call from the women, who were victims of human trafficking and had tried to escape their pimp.

The women were in a Vaughan hotel and were afraid to be found by the man, who allegedly controlled them through violent threats.

When police responded to the scene to assist the women, they weren’t fully co-operative, Insp. Thai Truong said at a news conference Wednesday at York Region police headquarters in Aurora.

An investigation began and the leader, also known as the ‘Kingpin’ of the human trafficking organization, was identified.

The two women who made the call were recruited in the Quebec area, and brought to the GTA to work for the pimp, Truong said, adding they had only been trafficked for a matter of weeks before coming to the “end of their rope.”

Women who are sexually exploited are, in many cases, forced into the sex trade through violence, threats of violence, coercion and trickery, police said.

“To the naked eye it may appear that these females that are involved in the sex trade are willing participants,” Truong told reporters. “They may smile at you, they may not even appear to be controlled or victimized.”

But, he added, police “have seen the horrific things that are happening to these women. They’re controlled in every way imaginable.”

Through the investigation, investigators identified 12 victims and determined that more than 30 women who were involved in the sex trade were associated with the group of suspects.

Truong did not specify exactly how long the group had been in operation, but said it’s been recruiting women for several years.

Many of them were recruited in Quebec and their ages range from 20 to mid-30s, Truong said.

Once involved, Truong alleged, the women were shuffled west to Ontario and other Canadian provinces where they were controlled by means including physical violence, emotional manipulation, drugs and alcohol.

The human trafficking organization does not have a specific name, but Truong said police called them the “Nyangwilas” because four of the suspects, including the leader, are Nyangwila brothers.

Truong said the Nyangwilas operate all over the GTA, and in multiple provinces, which is why the long-term investigation became “complex” and required many enforcement partners, including Toronto police, Ontario Provincial Police, Peel Region police, and the Quebec Integrated Human Trafficking Task Force.

“It’s about profit,” Truong said of what drives these organizations to run, using profits from frauds to fuel the human trafficking ring, such as paying for hotels.

There is a parallel investigation looking into the financial aspect of the case, he said.

Investigators are providing assistance to the victims, and are willing to speak to anyone involved in the sex trade who may be looking for a way out or who may require assistance to escape these dangerous circumstances.

“Despite enduring violent assaults, sexual assaults, torture and other degrading circumstances, many victims are fearful to come forward and often deny the events completely. Officers will be continuing the work to assist these victims and connect them with support,” police said.

Jonathan Nyangwila, 28, of Markham, also known by the aliases Zoulou and Skulls, faces 38 charges, including two counts of trafficking in persons, procuring to become a prostitute and uttering threats.

Karl Thomas Dunberry, 24; Karim Theodore Mesidor, 27; Sean Kennedy, 42; Muzamiro Semitego, 31; Bernard Bikamba, 41; Fabrice Hagerimana, 27; Jackson Jumbo, 29; Hesnaa Mesrar, 20; Milad Sadeghnezhad, 36; Adrien Nyangwila, 30; Mutombo Nyangwila, 34; Ivan Nyangwila, 32; Kevin Beldor, 28; Juneau Dangle, 28; Vekan Kaloustiman, 37; Jeffrey O’Neil, 44; Courtney Rocket, 42; Hoi-Fung Yeung, 36; Frederick Leon, 24; Vincenzo Figliano, 56; Kevin Bédard-Morin, 25; and Mathieu Simard-Gauthier, 28, also face various charges.

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Investigators have also charged eight women, but are not releasing their names, as they are also believed to be victims in the human trafficking investigation.

Police have issued warrants for the arrests of Jonathan Alexandre, 28; Daniel Fagen, 61; Randy Stewart, 33; and Paul McClean, 37.

More charges are expected to be laid as the investigation continues, Truong said.

With files from The Canadian Press