Durham police charge 12 in child sexual exploitation investigation

Durham Regional Police say 12 people have been charged following a 10-day investigation in October 2026 targeting people seeking to purchase sexual services from someone they believed was 15.

Police said investigators placed an online advertisement for a person represented to be 15 as part of the initiative, called Project Firebird. The advertisement received more than 8,000 views. According to police, numerous people attempted to arrange meetings for sexual services with someone they believed was a minor.

The 12 people face a combined 36 Criminal Code charges and one Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charge, police said. Each is charged with luring a person for the purpose of obtaining sexual services under 18, obtaining sexual services under 18 and invitation to sexual touching under 16.

Those charged

Police identified the accused as:

• Mohamed Shaffee, 64, of Markham
• Joshua Reid, 49, of Simcoe
• Andre McGann, 43, of Scarborough
• Mayan Ranjan, 39, of Ajax
• Zaheed Mohamed, 40, of Brampton
• Suresh Ravuru, 41, of Ajax
• Clement Chan, 36, of Whitby
• Mohammad Mabboobi, 22, of Oshawa
• MD Uzzal Mridha, 49, of Scarborough
• Samiullah Azizi, 29, of Clarington
• Vincent Haresco, 46, of Oshawa
• Devin Hill, 42, of Clarington

McGann is also charged with possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking, police said.

Information and support

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the Human Trafficking Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5600. Police also asked people affected by human trafficking to contact investigators for support.

Durham Region’s support network for survivors is available at www.stopht.com. Police said parents and caregivers can also use the resource to help children recognize signs of human trafficking. Victim Services of Durham Region offers confidential support at www.victimservicesdurham.ca.