Toronto police have charged three people in connection with an international human trafficking ring in which women from Eastern Europe were allegedly forced to work as prostitutes.
The victims were "lured" to the Toronto area after being told they would be working as models, police said.
The women were brought to Canada with fake passports and then forced into prostitution, police said.
When the women arrived, police allege they were forcibly confined and told they would be working as prostitutes for the ringleaders of the operation.
Police say they were tipped off about the operation on Thursday. Officers from Toronto and York Regional Police searched numerous residences and arrested six people.
Toronto resident Artur Tomchin, 35, and Richmond Hill residents Andrei Khazarov, 39, and Daniel Leshinsky, 38, face several charges.
Offences include trafficking in persons, exploitation, procuring a person to become a prostitute, living off the avails of prostitution, forcible confinement and threatening bodily harm.
Anyone with information is asked to call 52 Division vice squad at 416-808-5206, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.222tips.com.
