One of two men charged with trafficking a person under the age of 18 and receiving material benefit as a result will be sentenced later this summer in Vancouver Provincial Court.
The Vancouver Police Department said in July 2021 that 24-year-old Elkan Vyizigiro (known as Lavish or LK), Meaz Nour-Eldin (known as Streets), 25, as well as a young offender were charged with the alleged offences.
Vyizigiro, 25, appeared before Judge Dawn Boblin July 21 and will return July 27 to confirm a sentencing hearing date.
Court registry documents indicate he pleaded guilty in November.
The July 21 court docket indicates a guilty plea to trafficking in persons under 18 in Surrey and Vancouver.
Noor-Eldin’s case remains before B.C. Supreme Court after a not guilty plea. Court documents indicate he elected in October of 2022 to have a trial by judge and jury.
He arrived in Vancouver late on July 20 to appear in court after being flown from Ontario accompanied by sheriffs.
Vyizigiro had been in custody in Ontario on other matters at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, a 450-bed, maximum security jail in London.
“Investigators believe underage girls were recruited and trafficked for several months,” Const. Tania Visintin said at the time. “After becoming aware of the information in 2019, the Vancouver Police Counter Exploitation Unit launched an investigation surrounding the human trafficking operation.”
Documents say the alleged offences took place between December 2018 and February 2019.
Both men are also charged with unlawfully receiving a material or financial benefit for allegedly knowing it came from the commission of a criminal offence.
The victim’s name is covered by a publication ban.
