Image via Wikipedia
CALGARY -Whether the victims hail from China or a farm in Saskatchewan, the Internet is making it easier than ever to sexually exploit women through human trafficking.
In Calgary, websites recently helped lure victims and clients to seedy trick pads and motel rooms.
The Facebook page of a 38-year-old local man charged with human trafficking lists over 600 friends, many of them girls identifying themselves as high school students.
The man, who lists himself as the founder, photographer and consultant of an online adult magazine called RXI International in Edmonton and Vancouver, allegedly lured women as young as 16 from across the country to work as models. He is accused of putting them to work as prostitutes instead.
The man is one of two Calgarians charged this week with human trafficking, the first such charges in the city since the law came into effect.
"I think it is the tip of the iceberg," said Lara Quarterman, spokeswoman for the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking.
"By using the Internet to sell sexual services, not only are traffickers one step ahead of us, but there's an element of secrecy," she said. "They're doing it from their home computers."
Vice detectives spent three months on a sting after discovering a local woman was running a website advertising sex with young women.
Police allege she was booking appointments and directing men to three nearby bawdy houses as she worked at a northwest hair salon.
The lengthy undercover operation led to officers being offered two Asian "teenage girls" for sale.
The police struck a deal to pay $8,000 for the women, who turned out to be 25 and 41.
In such cases, the victims may not realize they've been "franchised," experts say.
"One of the biggest frustrations and challenges we face is that some people won't identify as a victim. They're not aware that the trafficker has gone to such lengths," said Quarterman.
Before human trafficking legislation came into effect, there were 21 prostitution charges stemming from a dozen bawdy house busts since 2008.
Police swept into a trick pad in Pineridge two years ago, finding a man and seven women inside.
One woman in the sex den had stepped off an airplane less than 24 hours before the bust.
The women were from China, Korea, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
A 37-year-old Hong Kong woman recently found inside a northwest bawdy house faces an immigration hearing today.
Linh Quy To, 52, is charged with human trafficking in the case.
Codie Toby Cardinal, also known as Brooklyn, is charged with human trafficking, as well as sexually exploiting children. He is 38.
szickefoose@theherald.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+human+trafficking+case+tied+Internet+luring/2302108/story.html
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c3e3379f-ac06-4ce2-b089-6395f208446f)
No comments:
Post a Comment