The Saskatchewan RCMP is alerting the public to the warning signs of human trafficking after two men were charged in connection with a business in the Rural Municipality of Edenwold. Authorities believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Charges Laid in Human Trafficking Case
On Tuesday, the RCMP issued a news release stating that the White Butte detachment received a report in November 2025 about potential human trafficking. An investigation was launched in collaboration with the federal police force’s Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation Unit (HTCEU).
The investigation revealed that an employee was required to pay a large sum of cash to secure employment with the company and obtain permanent residency status. The business owners allegedly withheld wages, forced employees to drive with unsafe loads, and required them to work long hours without compensation.
A 36-year-old man from the R.M. of Edenwold and a 50-year-old man from Regina have been charged with human trafficking, receiving a benefit from human trafficking, and withholding or destroying documents. The charges have not been proven in court. Both men have appeared in Regina provincial court and are scheduled to appear again in July.
Signs of Human Trafficking
The RCMP has listed several indicators that someone may be a victim of human trafficking:
- No freedom to leave: The individual is not free to leave their job or workplace. Attempts to do so are met with threats, coercion, or punishment.
- Documents withheld: Passports, IDs, or work permits are confiscated or controlled by the employer.
- Unpaid or stolen wages: Individuals do not receive their promised wages. Pay may be stolen, unfairly deducted, or withheld entirely.
- Extreme work hours: Individuals may be forced to work longer than industry standards allow, sometimes under pressure to falsify records.
- Unsafe work conditions: Individuals are made to work without required safety training or protective equipment.
- Poor living conditions: Individuals may be forced to live in overcrowded, unsafe, or unsanitary conditions controlled by their employer.
- Fear and intimidation: Individuals may show signs of fear or anxiety and avoid talking about their job or living conditions due to threats or monitoring.
- False promises or debt: Individuals may have been lured with false promises or trapped by debt from recruitment fees, forced to keep working to pay it off.
How to Report
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is urged to contact the RCMP at 310-RCMP or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). In cases of immediate danger, the RCMP advises calling 911.
Investigators believe there may be more victims and encourage anyone who has been subjected to such crimes to come forward.
