WATCH: Edmonton cops arrested three men in nationwide human trafficking investigation

Edmonton authorities have arrested three men accused of running a human trafficking operation spanning multiple provinces, following a year-long investigation known as Project Endgame.

The suspects — Clyde Elien-Abbot, Kevin Dorcelus-Cetoute, and Jean Rodnil Dubois, all 31 years old and from Montreal — face a total of 23 charges related to human trafficking.

Their alleged activities stretched across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.

The investigation was led by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) Human Trafficking Unit, with assistance from the Edmonton Police Service, the RCMP, and Quebec’s Anti-Pimping team, EILP.

Authorities executed arrests and search warrants in Edmonton, Montreal, and Red Deer. Elien-Abbot was arrested on January 31, while Dorcelus-Cetoute and Dubois were taken into custody on July 23, 2024.

“Project Endgame exhausted all resources and avenues to bring charges against the suspects and end this cycle of sexualized violence and degradation,” said Staff Sergeant Chris Hayes of ALERT.

Investigators believe the trafficking network had been in operation for over a decade, with the accused and potentially other individuals involved. The operation extended into several communities, including Calgary, Vancouver, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Cold Lake, and Estevan, Sask.

Authorities say the traffickers exerted control over their victims through coercion, forcing them to perform multiple sex acts daily.

Victims who resisted were allegedly subjected to violent assaults, threats, and degradation. Several victims have been identified and provided with support, but investigators believe there may be more and are urging them to come forward.

The case began in May 2023 after a 911 call reported a violent assault on a sex worker. Investigators linked the operation to a previous 2021 ALERT human trafficking case in which Dorcelus-Cetoute had been charged.

The charges against the accused include trafficking in persons, procuring, material benefit from sexual services, sexual assault, assault, uttering threats, money laundering, and animal cruelty.

Elien-Abbot remains in custody and is set for a bail hearing on February 19,, while Dorcelus-Cetoute and Dubois were released and are scheduled to appear in court on March 7.

ALERT, funded by the Alberta government, is a collaboration of specialized law enforcement units dedicated to combating organized crime. The success of Project Endgame was made possible with the assistance of multiple agencies, including the Edmonton Police Service, Montreal Police (SPVM), and various RCMP divisions across the country.