The Alberta RCMP have charged two men from Edmonton with human trafficking. Police allege the victims were working up to 90 hours a week and weren’t properly paid.
Mounties say a year-long investigation revealed four victims who were employees at a rural gas station and motel owned by a father and son.
The motel is located in Fox Creek, in northwest Alberta, and the gas station is in Calmar, southwest of Edmonton.
An investigation began in July 2024, after the Alberta RCMP received a tip from Alberta Employment Standards Office.
The investigation revealed that some of the temporary foreign workers were working 80 to 90 hours a week, without the proper compensation. False schedules were submitted to employment standards.
“Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, transporting, holding individuals by means of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of sexual or labour exploitation,” said RCMP Insp. Breanne Brown.
“In this case, the RCMP determined that the suspects took action to harbour and recruit foreign workers by using threats, abuse of power, fraud and deception, all for the purpose of exploiting the labour of these workers.”
Get breaking National news
Police say the father and son also underpaid the victims to the tune of $160,000.
RCMP Sgt. Roland Misik said labour trafficking is on the rise.
“Not to say that labour trafficking didn’t exist before, but we’re certainly seeing more of it,” Misik told a news conference Thursday.
- Man facing murder charges after couple dies in shooting on rural Alberta road: Grande Prairie RCMP
- 15 injured in stabbing at chemical plant in Japan, arrests made
- NWT RCMP deny excessive force, racism allegations after suspect suffers frostbite
- Lawsuit by Humboldt Broncos’ families dismissed by judge
He said just before Alberta RCMP created its unit that investigates human trafficking in 2022, there were approximately 37 cases involving both sex trafficking and labour trafficking.
“In 2024, we reviewed over 180 investigations, with 21 of those being related to labour trafficking. This year, we have reviewed 65 investigations, with seven of those being focused on labour trafficking.”
He said most traffickers have been able to successfully coerce vulnerable workers by withholding access to bank accounts and pay.
“When people are tied to their trafficker, they are held in debt bondage, including relying on their trafficker for things (such) as housing, food (and) financial support.”
Misik encouraged Albertans to look out for signs of labour trafficking, such as workers with bruises or malnourishment from not being able to eat meals or get proper sleep.
Yeon Soo Lee, 55, and his son, Joo Hyup Lee, 26, were both charged with human trafficking and material benefits from trafficking.
RCMP said investigators are also looking into money laundering allegations connected with the men.
Watch the video above for more.
With files from The Canadian Press
Comments