Alberta RCMP arrest father and son in human labour trafficking investigation

A father and son from Edmonton are facing charges of human labour trafficking connected to a business they owned outside the city.

Alberta RCMP say they have arrested a father and son after a year-long investigation into human labour trafficking near and northwest of Edmonton.

Last summer, RCMP and the Alberta Employment Standards Office received a report of possible human trafficking at the Grizzly Motor Hotel in Fox Creek and at a gas station in Calmar, said a statement issued Thursday.

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The investigation uncovered multiple illegal business practices involving several immigrant workers.

Some of the practices included forcing employees to work 80 to 90 hour weeks without proper compensation, submitting falsified work schedules, exploitative payment practices, overcharging rent and expenses, harassment and more.

Four victims were identified in the investigation – both men and women. Police won’t say where they are from or provide their ages, but do say they believe there are more victims.

“This investigation is ongoing, with allegations of money laundering still being investigated, and authorities continue to actively pursue all related offenses,” said Insp. Breanne Brown, RCMP Serious Crimes Branch. “Investigators are committed to fully uncovering the full scope of the operation and ensuring that all individuals are held accountable while victim supports are provided.”

As a result of the investigation, 55 year-old Yeon Soo Lee, a resident of Edmonton, faces four counts of trafficking persons and material benefits from trafficking and one count of criminal harassment.

His son, 26-year-old Joo Hyup Lee, was charged with trafficking persons and material benefits from trafficking.

Police say the father and son have since been released and are set to appear in court on Aug. 11.

RCMP investigated 117 human trafficking cases in Alberta in 2023 – 10 were labour related. The numbers jumped to 180 investigations last year with 21 involving labour trafficking.

“We’re seeing a trend that more and more victims of this type of crime are feeling more safe to come forward,” said Brown. “Not to say that labour trafficking didn’t exist before, but we’re certainly seeing more of it today than we did a few years ago.”

The province’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) branch conducted inspections of the hotel and the gas station related to compliance with OHS laws.

The inspections led to a $60,000 administrative penalty to the Grizzly Motor Hotel in Fox Creek for repeated non-compliance with OHS requirements.

The father, Yeon Soo Lee, was issued a $10,000 fine for hindering and interfering with an OHS officer, said a statement from RCMP.

The Employment Standards branch of Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration said it investigated multiple businesses owned by the Lees for allegations of human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable workers.

Employment Standards recovered more than $160,000 in unpaid earnings for employees and for unauthorized deductions from those earnings, said the statement.

“Labour trafficking is a form of human trafficking that involves recruiting, moving or controlling people through force, fraud or coercion to exploit their work — and it happens right here in Alberta," said Paul Brandt, the co-chair of the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons’.

“Victims are often misled about the jobs they’re promised, paid far less than agreed, or not at all, forced to work in unsafe or degrading conditions, and threatened if they try to speak up.”