WARNING: This story contains details of sexual exploitation.
A North Battleford woman was forced into the sex trade by Alberta crime boss Lawrence Chukwa Orubor after she became stranded in Camrose and he paid her way to Calgary, court heard.
At the time, she had just moved to Calgary and had gone home to North Battleford for Thanksgiving. On her way back to Calgary she became stranded in Camrose.
Alberta Associate Chief Justice D.B. Nixon ordered a ban on publication of the woman’s name during March 12 proceedings at the Alberta Court of King’s Bench in Calgary. The woman, now 31, is identified only as SS.
“Mr. Orubor recruited SS while she was isolated and homeless,” said Justice Nixon.
SS was addicted to methamphetamine when she was living on Calgary’s streets in the summer of 2020, according to court documents. She was getting drugs from a criminal organization called the Family.
SS testified that at first, she just sold drugs for the Family and the money from the sales went to Orubor.
SS, an Indigenous woman, described how she received a “minute” sometimes if she lost drug money. A minute is a street gang term for a one-minute beating. The minutes were carried out by other “girls” in the Family, she said but during one beating she was violently punched by Orubor.
When testifying in court, SS said the leader of the Family was Orubor and everyone called him “dad.”
She described the Family as a gang and said there were about 30-40 members, with her being one.
Court records, however, reveal that the Family had about 500 members in Canada. Orubor also ran the Family from the Calgary Remand Centre.
During Orubor’s trial, a Calgary Police Service detective testified that their surveillance of Orubor revealed his ties to Nigeria.
Calgary Police Service had launched Operation Bloodline to investigate Orubor’s involvement in drug trafficking. During that drug investigation, and through their surveillance, they also uncovered evidence of human trafficking.
Orubor told SS to apply for welfare benefits. She did but her boyfriend took them.
SS testified that Shakir Jamal, who was known as Shak and 2.0, ran the “girls” working in the sex trade for Orubor. Jamal had the word “Family” tattooed on his face.
Justice Nixon said that SS wasn’t underage but she was vulnerable because of her drug addiction and circumstances.
“Mr. Orubor exploited SS’s addiction to maintain control over her,” said Justice Nixon, adding that he used threats and violence to ensure that she gave him money from the sex trade.
Orubor also enticed SS by telling her that she would be able to make money and get her own place because she was “pretty.”
Orubor made SS put up a profile and ad on social media. He told her another girl, KD, made good money.
How the ‘Family’ operated
The criminal organization known as the Family was made up of vulnerable, addicted people who were mostly homeless and lived in and around the Drop-in Centre in downtown Calgary, reveal court documents.
There is evidence that Orubor ruled with an “iron fist” and made threats of violence against others, said Justice Nixon. He exerted control by controlling access to housing, controlling access to drugs, and by overt threats of violence.
The girls were controlled after they were recruited. Their money, what and whose drugs they could use, where they were allowed to sleep at night, where and how often they worked, were all controlled. The women also suffered violence at the hands of Jamal, with Orubor’s knowledge and praise.
Court heard that one text from Jamal to Orubor said “meat sales have been going great” and he expects to be making $500 a week or even a day.
Evidence in court showed how Orubor and Jamal preyed on the addictions and vulnerability of these women in order to make money.
SS was extremely vulnerable and socially and economically disadvantaged, in need of work, and desperate for money and drugs, court heard.
Orubor and Jamal exploited her for material gain and she was a physical asset that generated money, and “meat to be sold,” said Justice Nixon.
SS endured violence and exploitation. She was abused, controlled, and threatened when she was at her most helpless, added Justice Nixon.
“This was to fuel the greed of the two accused.”
Crime boss controlled five homes
According to court documents, Orubor had control and access to five homes in Calgary where people, drugs, and money were kept.
Orubor’s primary home was in the area of Lake Sylvan Close SE. At this home police seized about $30,000 in cash. The search of this home was done based on wiretap evidence.
The “Girls’ House was in the area of 113th Street and 8th Avenue NE. There police seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, along with a number of weapons.
The Boy’s House was in the area of 17th Street and 26th Avenue SW. At this home, police seized weapons and small amounts of controlled substances, but primarily a liquid substance called GHB.
A fourth home, occupied by David Acres, was in the area of 17th Street and 26th Avenue SW. At this home police seized fentanyl, over a kilogram of methamphetamine, and crack cocaine.
A fifth home called the Acres Residence was in the area of 28th street and 16th Avenue SE.
Acres was a witness for the defence and testified that he worked for Orubor at the Boys’ House delivering mattresses and changing locks.
Court heard that when gang members did well, Orubor provided privileges. He allowed them to go to the Girls’ House or Boys’ House to shower or to sleep but also to reload with drugs.
When the members of the Family weren’t given the privilege of staying at a house, they stayed at the “Block.” The Block was the area surrounding the Drop-In Centre where the Family mainly sold drugs.
If the members of the Family misbehaved, they got “a minute.”
Court heard many terms for drugs including “pants, boys, soft, side, tech and G.” Pants is fentanyl. Tech means methamphetamine. G is GHB. The term “paper” means money.
The Family had marked their “territory” in and around the Dermot Baldwin Area through the use of graffiti and tags.
Photos of the grafitti were entered into evidence by a Calgary Police Service detective. Some of the graffiti was in the form of a double “F,” which the officer testified meant “Family First.”
The arrests of Orubor and Jamal
Court heard that Orubor has a lengthy criminal record going back decades for violence. He has previous convictions for crimes including fraud, uttering counterfeit money, and possession of credit cards.
In November 2020, Orubor was arrested and charged with drug trafficking offences.
Two months later, in January 2021, Orubor and Jamal were both charged with human trafficking.
In July 2023, Jamal was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on two counts of human trafficking, one count of material benefit from trafficking and a charge of common assault.
In November 2023, Orubor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On March 12, Orubor was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for human trafficking (pimping).
Orubor will serve the 6.5-year prison sentence consecutive to his 10-year drug trafficking sentence.
“The seriousness of human trafficking has been noted by many courts across Canada,” said Justice Nixon when sentencing Orubor in March.
Help for victims
According to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, victims are often exploited by someone they know and trust like a boyfriend, friend, or family member.
Manipulation is a multi-faceted, comprehensive process that evolves across different stages. It usually doesn’t happen overnight. It’s often an insidious process that breaks down a person’s autonomy, self-control and self-worth.
In Canada, human trafficking almost always involves the sexual exploitation of young women and girls, according to Statistics Canada.
Women and girls account for 94 per cent of victims, while men and boys account for 5.6 per cent. Around a quarter (24 per cent) of victims are under 18.
Among police‑reported human trafficking incidents across Canada, 45 per cent of victims are women between the ages of 18 to 24. Indigenous people, immigrants, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are also often at a higher risk (Statistics Canada, 2022).
If you, or someone you know is a victim, you don’t have to face this alone.
“Trust your instincts and reach out if something about your relationship, or that of a loved one, doesn’t seem right,” says the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.
“Whether you are being exploited, know someone who is, or simply want to learn more, The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (1-833-900-1010) is here to help.”
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