An Alberta woman reportedly kidnapped and trafficked for sex managed to escape from an apartment in Surrey, British Columbia. This incident has led to a civil forfeiture case filed by the province, which seeks to reclaim $5,625 in cash seized from the apartment.

The Surrey Police Service conducted a raid on the 35th floor of a building in the Whalley neighborhood in March. During the operation, they arrested Gabriel Angel Osorio-Interiano and several associates after the woman fled the apartment and informed authorities of her ordeal.

According to the forfeiture claim filed on August 26, the victim was kidnapped from Alberta, given cocaine, and confined within the apartment. She was allegedly instructed to meet a client for a date. The claim states, "The victim had been kidnapped from Alberta, provided cocaine, locked inside of the residence, and was told to attend a date with a client."

The events in question reportedly occurred between March 19 and March 20, 2025. The claim outlines serious allegations against Osorio-Interiano and his associates, including forcible confinement, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. As of now, Osorio-Interiano has not responded to the forfeiture claim, and the allegations remain unproven in court.

A review of court records shows no criminal charges have been filed against him related to these allegations. Civil forfeiture cases are assessed under a lower standard of proof, known as the "balance of probabilities," compared to the criminal standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt."

The forfeiture claim details that the victim was compensated by the client at the end of the date, and Osorio-Interiano and his associates allegedly took a portion of her earnings. During the police raid, officers discovered cash, including $2,125 in Osorio-Interiano's wallet, $3,500 in a bedroom drawer, and $3,100 in an associate's wallet. Some of the cash was found to be contaminated with drug residue.

Additionally, police recovered fake identification belonging to Osorio-Interiano, drug paraphernalia, and items belonging to the victim, such as a journal documenting dates, payments, and rates for escort services. The unlawful activities cited in the forfeiture claim include possession for drug trafficking, forcible confinement, human trafficking, and money laundering.

Surrey Police Service spokesman Ian MacDonald stated that the investigation is complex and spans multiple jurisdictions. He added, "But we anticipate being in a position to recommend charges in the near future. Most importantly, we were able to identify the accused and ensure the victim’s safety."

If charges are recommended, the B.C. Prosecution Service will decide whether to proceed with a trial. Despite a rise in reported human trafficking cases, only a small percentage of suspects face charges. In 2022, only 40 percent of police-reported trafficking cases in Canada resulted in charges, with British Columbia reporting an even lower rate. In that year, only three out of 29 human trafficking cases in B.C. led to charges, marking the lowest rate since 2010.

In response to the growing issue, the B.C. RCMP recently established a new 12-member human trafficking unit. Chief Supt. Elija Rain noted that human trafficking is "grossly under-reported" and expressed hope for increased case reporting following the formation of this specialized unit.