Two women were allegedly sold for a “low amount” of money to undercover officers in one of two suspected human-trafficking prostitution rings unearthed by city investigators.
In the second case, three underage girls and a woman were allegedly lured using social-networking sites that were then used to advertise sexual services for money, according to police.
A woman posing as a hair stylist at the Alternative Hair Design Salon at 4105 4th St. NW allegedly offered two undercover officers two teenage Asian women for $5,000 each, but agreed to $4,000. The women were actually 25 and 41.
“It’s a shocking thing to see humans traded for money, and for a relatively low amount of money,” CPS Supt. Roger Chaffin said yesterday, adding it’s the first time in the city human-trafficking charges have been laid.
Police allege Linh Quy To, 52, operated bawdy house services from the salon and three residences in the city and advertised the services through an Internet site.
In the second investigation, police say four women were allegedly lured from other areas of Canada with promises of modelling and eventually sexually exploited.
Vice unit Staff Sgt. Colin Adair said the suspect was arrested outside of a hotel room while the girls, aged 16, 17 and 20, were inside the room. A 17-year-old girl already apprehended led police to the northwest hotel.
Codie Toby Cardinal, also known as Brooklyn Cardinal, 38, of Calgary, has been charged.
Lara Quarterman, co-ordinator for the Calgary chapter of Action Coalition on Human Trafficking, said while these cases are disturbing, Calgary’s not immune to that dark underworld.
“It’s not a new crime. They say prostitution is the oldest job and slavery has been happening for centuries,” Quarterman said.
