Human Trafficking in Canada: A Compliance Perspective (Part 2)

Know Your Compliance (KYC)

Human trafficking happens in plain sight and is often sustained by organized networks operating within seemingly legitimate businesses. In this episode, Jinisha Bhatt, an anti-financial crime consultant and investigator, sheds light on the chilling realities of human trafficking in Canada. She outlines how criminal networks exploit systemic vulnerabilities to traffic individuals, launder funds, and evade detection, focusing on illicit massage businesses as a case study. Bhatt emphasizes the responsibility of professionals in real estate, finance, and property management to recognize red flags and take incremental steps to disrupt these criminal enterprises. Bhatt highlights the profound human cost of trafficking and the critical need for a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach involving law enforcement, property managers, licensing authorities, and financial crime professionals. She also discusses how collaboration and awareness can help dismantle trafficking networks, empower victims, and reduce exploitation. This episode not only informs but inspires action, demonstrating how small changes in vigilance and reporting can contribute to meaningful progress against human trafficking.

Key Takeaways

• Traffickers rely on complex, multi-role networks, including recruiters, "mamasans," money handlers, and legal professionals to sustain their operations.
• Red flags in illicit businesses include generic branding, restricted access, cash-heavy transactions, and excessive surveillance.
• Trafficking networks exploit loopholes in licensing, immigration, and financial systems to operate with minimal risk.
• Incremental actions like raising awareness, identifying suspicious patterns, and improving reporting accuracy can make a difference.
• Effective intervention requires multidisciplinary collaboration among law enforcement, financial professionals, and community stakeholders.

Resources Mentioned

• FINTRAC's special bulletin on lawyers' involvement in money laundering was referenced.

Guest bio:

Jinisha Bhatt is the Founder of CAHTC (Canada Anti-Human Trafficking Consortium) and an anti-financial crime investigator operating at the critical intersection of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Human Trafficking (HT). She specializes in multi-jurisdictional crypto fraud and money laundering investigations, focusing on the profound human cost of financial crime. Drawn to the field by a strong belief that most crimes against humanity, society, and the environment are financially motivated, Jinisha sees her work as a way to make a meaningful impact on these issues.

Learn more about CAHTC at www.fighthumantrafficking.ca or connect with Jinisha on LinkedIn at www.jinisha.ca

Connect with Greg and ReallyTrusted at:

https://reallytrusted.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ReallyTrusted/

Thanks for listening

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.