Fintrac warns of trafficking risk before 2026 World Cup

As Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country’s financial intelligence agency has issued a public warning that major international events can heighten the risk of human trafficking. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, known as Fintrac, released a bulletin advising businesses to be vigilant for financial transactions that could signal trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labor.

The agency, which filters millions of financial reports annually from banks, casinos, and other entities to identify money laundering, shares its intelligence with law enforcement. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, Fintrac made 316 disclosures of actionable financial intelligence related to human trafficking investigations, identifying 538 persons of interest and supporting 26 project-level investigations.

With the World Cup scheduled from June 11 to July 19, bringing 48 national teams and hundreds of thousands of visitors to host cities, officials are highlighting the potential for increased exploitation. The tournament will feature 104 matches, including 13 games in Toronto and Vancouver. The bulletin notes that such large-scale events can fuel demand...