Joint CBSA and RCMP investigation into a human trafficking network leads to sentencing of three individuals
May 22, 2025 Niagara Falls, Ontario
Canada Border Services Agency | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are announcing that three individuals have entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced in connection with a joint investigation into human trafficking and employing foreign nationals without authorization.
On April 23, 2025, Christian Vitela pled guilty to employing foreign nationals without authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . He received a conditional discharge with two years of probation with the condition that he not employ foreign nationals.
On February 5, 2024, Mario Roca Morales pled guilty to three counts of human trafficking in violation of the Criminal Code of Canada . On February 27, 2024, he was sentenced to eight and a half years incarceration.
On February 14, 2023, Miurel Bracamonte pled guilty to employing a foreign national without authorization, in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . Bracamonte received a four-month conditional sentence plus an additional eight months probation. Additionally, she was ordered to pay $2,771 in restitution to the victim.
In 2018, the RCMP's Hamilton-Niagara Regional Detachment and the CBSA's Southern Ontario Region began a joint investigation into human trafficking and unauthorized employment of foreign nationals. The foreign nationals entered the country as visitors via Toronto Pearson International Airport, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. The investigation revealed these individuals were trafficked into employment in different lines of work, mostly in the Hamilton-Niagara Region, through employment agencies operated by members of the group who had facilitated their entry into Canada. The foreign nationals were exploited by the group members and their respective companies.
RCMP and CBSA, along with the Hamilton Police Service and several other police services in July and September of 2019, conducted eight search warrants in the Golden Horseshoe area, seven in Hamilton and one in Milton. They discovered 84 foreign nationals, living in deplorable conditions, upwards of 25 people living in a single house and others with infestations of bed bugs, cockroaches and other vermin. These search warrants and investigation led to charges of Human Trafficking, Material Benefit and Employing Foreign Nationals Without Authorization being laid in 2021 and 2022. The final court process was completed in April of 2025.
If you have information about suspected human trafficking or foreign nationals being illegally employed, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060. If you wish to report criminal activity in your area, you can contact your local police, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
13 hours ago
- Global News
RCMP take steps to combat thieves targeting Alberta's evacuated communities
First, Yellowhead County Mayor Wade Williams was worried the hamlet of Peers, Alta., would go up in flames, and then he was alarmed to learn someone had stolen fire equipment. 'It is ridiculous and blows my mind that someone would come here and steal equipment that was laid out to save lives and homes,' Williams said. Williams said the thief targeted water pumps. 'For anyone who would loot in an evacuated area, we need stiffer penalties.' The province of Alberta said it is aware of this situation, and notes that it wasn't aware of any other incidents. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In a statement to Global News, the Alberta government said, 'The alleged theft of fire equipment is utterly unacceptable and profoundly alarming, as it directly jeopardizes public safety during a vital period for Albertans while they're in crisis and places fire personnel in grave unnecessary danger.' Story continues below advertisement In May, RCMP arrested a man for tampering with sprinklers while the Redwater area was evacuated. Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said to combat this, police officers patrol empty areas 24/7. They have also started using drones. 'This year, we are finding it extremely helpful and successful, when you have an evacuated area and have (this) asset,' Savinkoff said. 'You can cover off a lot of area. It's very easy to see suspicious behaviour with those drones.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You can cover off a lot of area. It's very easy to see suspicious behaviour with those drones." Savinkoff said many of the thieves who target these areas are repeat offenders. 'They're potentially finding ways in or not everybody evacuates, so it becomes an issue of managing the people that chose to remain in the community.' As there are more evacuation order issues, Savinkoff stresses Mounties will continue to patrol these areas with both uniform and non-uniform officers.
CTV News
14 hours ago
- CTV News
N.S. RCMP looking for debit card scammers in Antigonish, Port Hawkesbury
Nova Scotia RCMP is looking for two alleged debit card scammers. (Source: RCMP) Nova Scotia RCMP is looking for two people allegedly involved a pickpocketing and debit card scam at Port Hawkesbury and Antigonish area grocery stores and retailers. Police say the scammers watch a victim enter their debit card PIN while they complete a transaction, and then pickpocket them when they're leaving the store or getting into their vehicle. Police recommend people shield the keypad while entering their PINs, never accept help from a stranger when using an ATM and regularly check their bank account statements. Anyone with information on the scam is asked to call police at 902-863-6500, or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Global News
14 hours ago
- Global News
Sask. woman last seen in Edmonton missing under suspicious circumstances: EPS
A young woman from northern Saskatchewan hasn't been seen or heard from in a month and now, the Edmonton Police Service is investigating her disappearance as suspicious in nature. Natanis Merasty, 24, is from La Ronge, Sask. but was in Edmonton last month. She was reportedly last seen at the Continental Inn on 166 Street and Stony Plain Road in the west end on May 5. On May 9, Merasty was reported missing by her family to RCMP in Saskatchewan after they hadn't heard from her in four days. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy At the time, RCMP thought Merasty could be in Calgary or Leduc in Alberta, or Revelstoke in B.C. Edmonton police took over the investigation on May 22, and continue to seek information about her whereabouts. Story continues below advertisement Merasty drives a 2007 black Hyundai Tucson with Saskatchewan plates. She has long brown hair, brown eyes and is described as having an average build. Police said she has multiple tattoos, including a cross on her forearm, a flower on the top of her right hand, and letters on her fingers. She was last seen wearing black clothing and white shoes. Edmonton police said family and investigators are concerned for her wellbeing, and investigators now consider Natanis' disappearance suspicious. Anyone with information about Natanis' whereabouts is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
