Human trafficking ring busted, Montrealer arrested

A Montreal man faces fivecharges of human trafficking as well asprocuring and living off the avails of prostitution, following his arrest this morning as part of an investigation into the human trafficking of people of Romanian origin into Canada.

The RCMP arrested MariusTrifuMiclescu, 38, a Romanian man living in Montreal'sSt-Lonardborough,as part of aninvestigation dubbed Project Combative. Theinvestigationwas startedabout a year ago to target criminal organizations involved in allegedsmuggling and sexual exploitation of young Romanian women.

Miclescumade a brief appearance this afternoon in a Montreal courtroom, where a judge ordered he not be allowed to contact any of the women he is accused of forcing into prostitution.

Policesuspect Miclescuwas involved in human traffickingin the greaterMontrealarea.

Cpl.Caroline Letangsaid the trafficking ring operated by reaching out to families inRomania, promising to smuggle family members to Canada for a better life.

Letang said people wereusually smuggled through the United States and then across the border near Cornwall, Ont.

So far, four alleged victims have been identified.According to Letang, the victims were coerced through beatings and threats to workin erotic massage parlours to pay off their debts.

In case like this,Letang said victims are often afraid to testify.

"It is hard because obviously in human trafficking cases, the victims are very scared, scared of what will happen to them," she said.

'Closed-door prostitution'

Police said a major challenge in these types of investigations is tracking downalleged crimes that often happen in legal establishments.

"Erotic massage parlours,we know there's prostitution there. It's closed-door prostitution," Letangsaid.

She said thereare at least 350 such parlours in Montreal alone.

Letang said more arrests are expected in the next few weeks.

Police are also searching for Valentin Dumitru, 54, also from Saint-Lonard.

Earlier arrests include Toronto residents

Miclescu's arrest for human trafficking is the latest of several in recent weeks.

Last September, Serafin Cirnaru, 39, of Toronto, was arrested after allegedly planning tosmuggle several Romanian families into Canada.

Cirnaruis due to appear in courton Nov.4 for a bail hearing.

Two other Toronto residents MirabelaDumitru, 31, andLilianUrsoi, 23, are also facing charges in connection with their involvement in thehuman trafficking network.