LETHBRIDGE, AB – Ten men, all believed to be from Lethbridge and Calgary, are facing charges relating to a human trafficking investigation.
Lethbridge Police allege a 15 year old girl had been selected, groomed and brought to specific locations where sexual exploitation and sexual assaults took place.
Members of the Criminal Investigation Section say some of the same suspects also allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a 13 year old.
Police say the number of alleged victims at this point have not been confirmed.
There are a wide range of people facing charges. The LPS says of the ten accused, there are youth, a business owner, and a physician.
Fadi (Stawi) Chtewi, 20, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- two counts of sexual assault
- sexual assault – party to offence with another person (more than one person involved in the sex assault)
- two counts of aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
Abdulla Mohammed, 19, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- two counts of sexual assault
- sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- two counts of aggravated assault
- trafficking persons under 18
Mohammad Neirabani, 22, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- sexual assault
- sexual assault causing bodily harm
- sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
- child luring
Mahmoud Nirabani, 20, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- two counts of sexual assault
- sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- two counts of aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
Ziyaad Noor, 37, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- sexual assault
- sexual assault causing bodily harm
- sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
Mohammad Zafari, 20, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- two counts of sexual assault
- sexual assault – party to an offence with another person
- aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
A 17-year-old male, who cannot be identified, faces charges of:
- two counts of sexual assault
- sexual assault causing bodily harm
- two counts of sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- Â two counts of aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
- child luring.
A 16-year-old male, who cannot be identified, faces charges of:
- sexual assault
- sexual assault causing bodily harm
- sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
Arrest warrants have been issued for the following:
Meriton Krasniqi, 26, faces charges of:
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- two counts of sexual assault
- sexual assault causing bodily harm
-  sexual assault – party to offence with another person
- aggravated sexual assault
- trafficking persons under 18
Khaled Alsaid, 22, faces charges of:
- sexual assault
- invitation to sexual touching
- sexual interference
Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is asked to contact Acting Sgt. Bryan Whelpley at 403-330-5167 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
