An anonymous tip led to the break up of an alleged brothel downtown Vancouver said to employ an underage girl, a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.
According to Const. Lindsey Houghton, three women were found in an apartment at 909 Burrard Street, including a 17-year-old girl, when officers executed a search warrant on May 12.
The two older women, aged 33 and 44, are visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan. They’re being investigated by the Canada Border Services Agency. The girl, a home-stay student from China, was released into the care of The Ministry of Child and Family Development.
Police began an investigation in January after receiving a tip that an underage girl worked at the apartment.
Houghton said a man described as the “keeper” of the operation used Craigslist to lure women to work for him and to advertise sexual services.
Xiao Jin Zhao, a 44-year-old Vancouver resident, is facing various prostitution related charges.
