Three Calgary massage parlours have been closed by police after a year-long investigation alleges the businesses and their owners were linked to suspected human trafficking.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) says Hai (Anna) Yan Ye was arrested and charged on April 16 with advertising sexual services, drug offences, and firearms offences.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and further charges are being considered.
The 49-year-old was linked to three commercial properties and two homes that were allegedly being used for illegal sexual activities and services, according to ALERT.
Search warrants were executed by ALERT, the Calgary Police Service, and the RCMP at the following locations:
- Seagull Massage at 1034 8 Avenue SW;
- 128 Massage at 1935 37 Street SW; and
- The One Massage Centre at 1919 31 Street SE.
- A home on the 1100 block of Hidden Valley Drive; and
- A home on the 3100block of 12 Avenue SW
The massage parlours were ultimately closed.
Police say they also seized $15,000 in suspected proceeds of crime, a shotgun with ammunition, and various amounts of drugs.
“We believe that these were immigrants being exploited into the sex trade. This has been a common trend that takes advantage of their unfamiliarity and vulnerability,” Staff Sgt. Gord MacDonald with ALERT Human Trafficking said in a statement.
Four suspected victims have been identified and given resources by ALERT’s Safety Network Co-ordinators.
MacDonald tells CityNews the suspected victims were employees at the parlours who were being exploited to provide sexual services.
ALERT says the investigation started in February 2023 when it got a tip about suspicious activity at the since-closed Moonlight Massage.
This location was closed during the investigation in December 2023, when the landlord identified illegal suites at the address.
Ye was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions.
Anyone with information about this investigation, or any case involving suspected human trafficking it asked to contact CrimeStoppers or the Calgary police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.