DOZENS ARRESTED IN MAPLE RIDGE SEX TRADE STING

Thirty eight people were arrested by police in a four-week operation
that targeted the sex trade in downtown Maple Ridge.

Ridge Meadows RCMP's Street Enforcement Unit and undercover officers
from E Division headquarters conducted the sting, resulting in charges
of communication for the purpose of prostitution against 23 women.

The 15 men arrested will be diverted to the prostitution offenders
program, or "John school," run by the John Howard Society.

"This is the third or fourth time Ridge Meadows RCMP have tackled this
problem in the last two years," said RCMP Superintendent Dave Walsh.

The operation targeted an area south of the Lougheed Highway, between
222nd Street and 225th Street.

"The police are very aware of the issues that the women face," Walsh
added.

"The majority of these women have drug addictions and are not able to
hold a job and earn money. We need to intervene and offer alternative
choices to help these people make better decisions."

RCMP referred the women to counselling services provided by Alouette
Addictions in Maple Ridge.

"We will continue to run these projects, and offer the services, in an
effort to reduce, or rid, our community of this type of problem,"
Walsh said.