DELTA (NEWS 1130) – Following the dismantling of a Delta prostitution ring involving underage girls, police are saying there could be more victims.

Coquitlam man Mohammed Sharif Begg, 35, was arrested Wednesday. Police believe he is one of two people who were behind the operation.

He is being accused of enticing young girls with false promises or with drugs and moving them between Vancouver and Calgary, according to Staff Sergeant Heath Newton with the Delta Police Investigations Bureau.

“It’s one of those underbelly parts of society that we don’t get a lot of reporting on. Fortunately somebody did come forward and we were able to act on it,” he said.

A former Delta resident now faces seven charges in relation to human trafficking and prostitution. Delta Police believe he may have victimized other woman or teen girls, and they are encouraging them to come forward. https://t.co/o0VqABBPpO pic.twitter.com/6zwjqfBoOT — Delta Police (@deltapolice) October 5, 2018

Begg faces six prostitution and human trafficking-related charges, plus one of assault. Police say the other suspect died in an unrelated incident before charges could be laid.

The investigation began back in May, 2017. Police say they received a tip about a home in North Delta, suggesting some of the people involve may be underage. Police add the prostitution operation was advertised on social media.

A teen girl was identified and removed from the situation. She was put into the care of the Ministry of Children and Family and a guardian. A total of three victims, including 15 and 16-year-old girls, were identified.

“By virtue of lifestyle and a power imbalance relationship that they had with Mr. Begg and his now-deceased co-accused, they were put into some pretty difficult situations.”

Begg said there is often a grooming process. “A lot of it [has to do with] drug addiction. You get somebody in a tough circumstance who might be addicted already, and you build on top of that. That’s really what we saw here.”

He believes more women and teens were victimized. “Just by virtue of the level of recruitment that was going on.”

“Anybody who’s had contact or interactions, negatively, with Mr. Begg or any associates that they’re aware of to come forward to us,” said Newton.

If you have information, you’re asked to contact Delta Police at 604-946-4411 or they may contact Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous call 1-800-222-8477.

– With files from Dean Recksiedler