Quebec anti-pimping squad arrest four after investigation that began in 2025

A Surete du Quebec (SQ) police cruiser. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

The Quebec provincial police (SQ) anti-pimping squad has arrested two men and two women in a human-trafficking case.

The SQ said in a news release that an investigation launched in August in Maschouche led to the arrest of Gabriel Lecours, 27; Brenda Coulombe, 25; Mélanie Corbeil Desaulniers, 47; and Marcos Barquin Varela, 37.

They are facing human trafficking, benefiting from sexual services, advertising those services, and possession of criminally obtained property charges.

Alera and Desnaulniers were also charged with pimping counts.

“Investigators have reason to believe that these individuals may have victimized others,” the SQ said in a news release.

The anti-pimping squad (EILP) is made up of investigators from the Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, Longueuil and Gatineau police departments, in addition to the RCMP and SQ.

Anyone with information on the file or other related crimes is asked to call the SQ’s info-crime number at 1-800-659-4264.