Suspected Canadian sex trafficker busted in Mexico, extradited home

An accused Quebec pimp has been busted in Mexico and sent back to Canada for alleged sex crimes.

Police said Blake Charbonneau, 35, was pinched in the Mexican state of Baja California for more than 30 sexual offences involving four alleged victims. He had been on BOLO’s Most Wanted list.

In January, Surete du Quebec Insp. Pierre-Mathieu Viviers announced that a reward of up to $50,000 was being offered for information leading to the capture of Charbonneau.

“Blake Charbonneau has displayed a level of violence to a point where some of the victims feared for their lives. He exercises control on his victims by keeping them in his grip through threats, manipulation or fear,” Viviers told reporters at the time.

Viviers said detectives believed Charbonneau had contacted many other potential victims through social media.

Charbonneau was the first alleged criminal on the Quebec BOLO program with his face plastered on billboards and social media.

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Cops said that Charbonneau was flown into Toronto on Jan. 28 where he was greeted by members of the Toronto Police Fugitive Squad. He was arrested for Canada-wide warrants and was taken into custody by the Integrated Anti-Pimping Squad for his return to Quebec.

He was slated to appear at the Quebec City courthouse to face charges of sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated sexual assault, obtaining sexual services for consideration including minors and procuring.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Charbonneau was initially arrested in Quebec City on March 19, 2020, as part of an investigation involving a single victim.

But Charbonneau skipped his May 2021 court date. Quebec police went public and three more complainants came forward after the announcement.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun