Four Suspects Arrested in Human Labour Trafficking Case Linked to Three Provinces

A file photo of an Ontario Provincial Police logo. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested four individuals following an investigation into a human labour trafficking case linked to job sites in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta.

An OPP release provided to The Epoch Times on May 24 said the Project Foxtrot investigation started on Feb. 13, when police received a tip that foreign nationals from Mexico were being exploited for labour trafficking purposes.

The police said that three male victims, ranging in age from 27 to 42 are now safe, after being recruited online and promised work permits and paid employment in Canada.

“Project Foxtrot demonstrates the exploitation of human trafficking victims in plain sight and the necessity of the IJFS (Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy) and its partners to help unmask this crime,” said Detective Inspector Jordan Whitesell, OPP IJS lead.

“It serves as a stark reminder that human trafficking remains a largely clandestine and complex crime that easily goes unnoticed. We must come together to educate ourselves, recognize the signs, empower survivors and provide hope to victims to combat this hidden threat.”

The victims were expected to work at various recycling facilities in Red Deer (Alberta), North Bay (Ontario), Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) and Levis (Quebec). They were housed in several short-term rentals around Canada and in the basement of one of the accused in Simcoe County, according to police.

The victims were charged for their accommodations deducted directly from their wages, which was less than the “good paying employment” they were promised.

Arrests

Officers from the IJFS, Anishnibek Police Service, Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police and Halton Regional Police Service were all involved in executing search warrants at locations throughout Simcoe County and the Greater Toronto Area on May 16.

Police arrested and charged 72-year-old Miroslaw Blachuta, of Etobicoke, Ontario, with three counts of human trafficking of persons and three counts of material benefits in trafficking of persons under the Criminal Code. Blachuta was released on an undertaking and has a court date in Brampton on July 17.

Francisco Eluid Antionio-Olvera, age 33, of Simcoe County, was also arrested and charged with three counts of the same charges as Blachuta. He was scheduled for a bail hearing on May 23. Police have not provided a further update on his status.

Halton, Ont., man Mikhael Akin, 53, was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in persons, and released on an undertaking. He will appear in Brampton Court alongside Blachuta on July 17, 2023.

The last arrest was of Floriberta Sarmiento, a 27-year-old female, charged with one count each of trafficking in persons and material benefit in trafficking of persons. She was released on an undertaking and is scheduled in Brampton Court on June 26.

The police said the victims received support and services through the OPP IFJS Victim Specialist and FCJ Refugee Centre.