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Robert Wang, a former Vice intern who was trying ingratiate himself with Pastukhov to boost his career, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years; Nathaniel Carty, a New York-based model who said he was recruited by Pastukov at a Vice party in Toronto, was given a 5 1/2-year sentence.

Porscha Wade, the only female in the group, was the girlfriend of one of Pastukhov’s friends and said Pastukhov briefed her on her trip before leaving. Wade was given a three-year sentence and returned home to Canada in December.

Janet Wade, Porscha’s mother, said she was pleased to hear of the arrests.

“It gives me relief that this doesn’t have to happen to other children and to other parents; that other people don’t have to go through the grief and agony of what we did,” she said.

Her daughter’s ordeal drained them — “financially and emotionally and physically,” she said. She was uncertain that Canadian police would act on the case. “I didn’t think they would connect the dots,” she said.

This arrest by the RCMP came about as a result of efforts and collaboration on the part of multiple domestic and foreign partner agencies

The Post first asked Pastukhov in 2017 about the claims he used his position with the popular, youth-focused media outlet to recruit young journalists, artists and models as drug mules, allegations he denied.

After the Post published its initial story, the Toronto police drug squad launched an investigation.

The international nature of the allegations saw that investigation handed over to the RCMP. In announcing the arrests Monday, the RCMP said it worked with the Australian Federal Police to conduct interviews and gather evidence of the conspiracy.

“This arrest by the RCMP came about as a result of efforts and collaboration on the part of multiple domestic and foreign partner agencies and is a testament to the commitment of all agencies to bring these subjects to justice,” said RCMP Supt. Chris Leather in a release. Leather heads the Toronto area’s Serious & Organized Crime unit.

A request for comment from Vice Canada late Monday went unanswered by deadline.

• Email: ahumphreys@nationalpost.com | Twitter: AD_Humphreys