Seventh person nabbed in Canada-wide prostitution investigation

MONTREAL — The RCMP says it has arrested another person in its investigation into a Canada-wide prostitution ring alleged to have smuggled more than 500 Asian women into the country.

A 34-year-old Toronto man nabbed in Jasper, Alberta, late Wednesday became the seventh person to be caught, leaving one accused still at large.

READ MORE: Canada-wide prostitution ring shut down by the RCMP

Police say the alleged victims, mainly from Korea and China, received assistance from a criminal organization to enter the country and were then controlled and exploited by the prostitution ring.

The accused are allegedly part of an Asian-based organized crime ring that operated in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

RCMP Const. Erique Gasse says 500 is a conservative estimate for the number of alleged victims and that the police probe began in January 2014.

A 20-year-old Montreal woman is still being sought.

Meanwhile, three other people from the Montreal area arrested previously saw their scheduled bail hearings postponed today until April 29, when a full-day hearing will be held.

A man and a woman flown to Montreal from Toronto on Wednesday were to appear in court later Wednesday.

One other person has been released but still faces charges.

Police have also seized more than $500,000.