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A Montreal police operation in Ahuntsic Friday led to arrests of six men suspected of soliciting prostitutes for sex.

Undercover police officers from the morality squad were responding to complaints of prostitution in the area, said Montreal police spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron.

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Bergeron would not confirm the identity of the six clients arrested because they have not yet appeared in court.

However, according to La Presse, former Quebec Liberal Family Minister Tony Tomassi was arrested for approaching a prostitute — who turned out to be an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute — and soliciting sex from her.

The former minister was arrested in an operation in an area where motels are located on Lajeunesse St. in Ahuntsic.

Six clients face charges of solicitation of sexual favours. They were released on the promise to appear in municipal court in February.

Tomassi was elected to the National Assembly for the first time in 2003, under the banner of the Quebec Liberal Party. Re-elected twice, he represented the riding of LaFontaine for nine years.

Tomassi became family minister in 2008 under Jean Charest’s government and was dismissed and expelled from the PLQ in May 2010 after revelations about his use of a credit card from the BCIA security firm that he used to refuel his personal vehicle.

In October 2011, he was formally charged with government fraud and breach of trust.

Tomassi resigned as MNA on May 3, 2012 after serving as an independent MNA for several months.