Twenty seven people arrested on prostitution charges in Town of Markham, Ontario

The York Regional Police Drugs and Vice Enforcement Unit has charged 27 people with 75 prostitution-related charges after an investigation revealed a massage parlour was operating as a
common bawdy house in the Town of Markham.
 
On Friday, October 15, 2010, shortly before midnight, members of the York Regional Police Drugs and Vice Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at Delux Club located 980 Dennison Street, in the Town of Markham. Investigation revealed that sexual acts were being performed in exchange for money and 27 people were arrested and now face charges in connection with the illegal bawdy house.

Subsequent to these arrests, four additional residential search warrants were executed on Dawlish Avenue in Aurora and Echo Point, Greenberry Place and Poucher Street in Toronto, where police seized a quantity of cash and documents in relation to the operation of Club Delux.

Included in the 27 arrests were five bawdy house keepers, 15 inmates and seven other people found inside. A total of 75 charges were laid that range from Exercise Control, Keep a Common Bawdy House, Live on the Avails of Prostitution, Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Being an Inmate of a Common Bawdy House and Found In a Common Bawdy House.

York Regional Police is reminding residents that despite the recent Superior Court decision regarding potential changes to the prostitution laws, existing legislation is still in force and officers will continue to enforce the current laws.

Investigators are encouraging other women who may have involvement with these accused parties, and may themselves be victims, to come forward to speak with police.