Three Calgary massage parlours have been shut down following a year-long investigation into human trafficking.
ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams) says two Calgary homes have also been identified as being used for illegal activities following a joint investigation involving ALERT, the Calgary police and the RCMP.
Hai (Anna) Yan Ye, 48, was arrested on April 16 and has been charged with advertising sexual services, drug offences and firearms offences.
Staff Sgt. Gord MacDonald of ALERT’s human trafficking unit says warrants were obtained and searches carried out on three commercial properties and two homes:
- Seagull Massage at 1034 8 Ave. S.W.
- 128 Massage at 1935 37 St. S.W.
- The One Massage Centre at 1919 31 St. S.E.
- 1100 block of Hidden Valley Drive
- 3100 block of 12 Ave. S.W.
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Investigators also seized $15,000 in suspected proceeds of crime, a shotgun with ammunition and drugs.
MacDonald says four suspected victims, believed to be recent immigrants who were exploited into the sex trade, were identified and are being provided with help.
“This has been a common trend that takes advantage of their unfamiliarity and vulnerability,” says MacDonald.
He says the investigation dates back to February 2023 when police received a tip about suspicious activity taking place at Moonlight Massage, which was forced to close in December 2023, after the landlord identified illegal suites on the premises.
Ye was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions but ALERT says the investigation continues and further charges are being considered.
“There are a number of legitimate massage therapists operating from their homes (in Calgary), and those are not the people we want to be concerned about,” says MacDonald. “What we are concerned about is the people who are being exploited in activities such as illicit sexual services and it’s very hard for police services to discern between one and the other, so information from the public is very important to help in these investigations.”
ALERT is asking anyone with information about this, or any case involving suspected human trafficking offences, to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.