When we hear stories of human trafficking, the natural question that arises is:
“Why would someone do this to another human being?”
It’s easy to imagine evil as obvious—but in reality, traffickers are often calculated, strategic, and motivated by one thing: profit. To truly fight human trafficking in Ontario (and across the world), we must understand what traffickers gain—and how we can cut off their rewards.
1. Human Trafficking Is Incredibly Profitable
Human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry—more than the profits from tech giants like Apple and Microsoft combined. It’s the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, only behind drug trafficking.
Unlike drugs or guns, which can be sold only once, a trafficker can exploit a person over and over again.
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A trafficker can make $250,000+ per year from a single victim in the sex trade.
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In forced labour, victims are made to work long hours for no pay while traffickers pocket the profits from farms, factories, and restaurants.
Bottom line: People are turned into products.
2. Low Risk, High Reward
In many cases, traffickers operate with very little fear of being caught. That’s because:
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Victims often don’t come forward—they’re afraid, ashamed, or under threat.
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Trafficking is difficult to detect and underreported.
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Sentences may be low compared to other crimes with similar profits.
This “low risk, high reward” reality incentivizes traffickers to keep going.
3. It’s Not Just About Money—It’s About Power
Many traffickers thrive on psychological control and domination. They:
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Manipulate their victims emotionally (grooming them with false love)
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Use threats, violence, or blackmail
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Break down a person’s self-worth to maintain dependence
Traffickers often control every aspect of a victim’s life—what they eat, where they go, who they see. This creates a dangerous cycle where escape feels impossible.
4. It Supports Other Criminal Enterprises
Human trafficking is rarely a “solo operation.” It’s often part of a larger network that fuels:
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Drug trafficking
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Identity theft
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Money laundering
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Fraud
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Organized crime
That means stopping trafficking doesn’t just protect victims—it also helps weaken broader criminal networks.
5. They Exploit Systemic Gaps
Traffickers are opportunists. They thrive where the system fails.
They target:
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Girls and women living in poverty
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Youth in foster care
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Newcomers without strong community support
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Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals
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People with no stable housing, job, or protection
They don’t see people—they see opportunity.
What Can We Do?
If traffickers gain so much, how do we fight back?
Here’s what cuts into their power:
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Awareness: The more we know, the harder it is for traffickers to hide.
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Reporting: If something feels off, say something.
📞 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010 -
Support survivors: Help them reclaim power and rebuild lives.
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Stop the demand: Challenge the systems and mindsets that allow exploitation to flourish.
The Takeaway
Traffickers benefit from profit, power, and silence.
We dismantle their advantage by being loud, informed, and unafraid to act.
Human trafficking is preventable—but only if we see the full picture and take action to protect the most vulnerable among us.
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