RCMP takes down Canada-wide human-smuggling, prostitution ring

The RCMP says it has broken up a Canada-wide prostitution ring that allegedly smuggled as many as 500 Asian women into the country over an unspecified period.

Federal authorities announced today they've broken up two major cells of the network in the last five days and arrested six people in the greater Montreal and Toronto areas.

The accused are allegedly part of an Asian-based organized crime ring that operated in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

They face a host of charges including procuring, procuring minors, advertising sexual services and gaining a material benefit from sexual services.

Police say the alleged victims, mainly from Korea and China, received assistance from a criminal organization to enter the country and were then controlled and exploited by the prostitution ring.

Two alleged ringleaders were arrested and flown to Montreal from Toronto today and are to appear in court Thursday, while police are seeking two other suspects.

Authorities say they also seized two vehicles, an important sum of cash, computers and cellular phones.