 Pictures of Linh Quy To above her work chair at her salon, Alternative Hair Design in Calgary, Alta. The 52-year-old has been charged with human trafficking. (Sun Media/Darren Makowichuk)
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CALGARY -- By day, she runs a tidy little hair salon in the city's northwest, drives a Hummer and loves her little dogs.
But police claim a 52-year-old Calgary woman was involved in human trafficking after she allegedly offered to sell two women to undercover cops for $4,000 each.
It is one of two investigations leading to allegations of human trafficking, the first such charges filed in Calgary, Supt. Roger Chaffin said.
"They were offered the opportunity to purchase these two girls," he said.
"It's common in terms of what goes on globally ... it's shocking thing to see humans traded for money and a relatively low amount of money."
The investigation began when police found an online ad for erotic services by young Asian women. They allege the woman arranged appointments, posted ads and gave directions to the bawdy houses, while posing as a hair stylist at Alternative Hair Design, at 4105 4 St. N.W.
The investigation led to cops searching homes on Holmwood Ave. and Hendon Dr. N.W. and 17 Ave. S.W.
Police allege she sold two supposed teens, both originally from China and actually aged 25 and 41, to officers posing as men wanting to get into the bawdy house business. One is a permanent resident and the other illegally in Canada and custody facing deportation proceedings.
Staff Sgt. Colin Adair, a vice officer, said the women, who spoke little English, lived out of suitcases and moved from location to location, allegedly to be sexually exploited.
"It's appalling somebody can actually be purchased ... at any price," he said.
Two stylists who rent space at the accused's salon were sickened by the charges.
"Someone who does that deserves to go to jail," Laurel Anderson said.
Linh Quy To, 52, of Calgary, is charged with trafficking in persons and numerous other charges. She made a brief court appearance yesterday.
In the second case, aspiring models were lured to Calgary using social networking websites, promised careers and instead forced into the sex trade, police said.
On Nov. 20, vice officers apprehended a 17-year-old girl under the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act. That led them to a hotel room in the northeast where they found two other girls, aged 16 and 17, and a woman, 20. A man watching the room from nearby was arrested.
Adair said both cases show the challenges facing investigators, with much of the sex trade going on-line and underground.
Codie Toby Cardinal, 38, of Edmonton, was charged with two counts of trafficking in persons and other charges.
The human trafficking counts in that case were withdrawn by the Crown on Tuesday and replaced with prostitution-related charges.
Police hope to pursue human trafficking charges at a later date, organized crime Insp. Sat Parhar said.
Two of the victims are in protective under while two have returned home.
NADIA.MOHARIB@SUNMEDIA.CA
