Charges laid against former Calmar gas station operators

CALMAR -- Alberta RCMP have laid charges against the former operators of a local gas station. 

The investigation began last summer when the RCMP and Alberta Employment Standards Office received a report of possible human labour trafficking at both the Petro Canada in Calmar as well as a motel in Fox Creek. The complaint made its way to the RCMP's Serious Crimes Branch, which then engaged several agencies including Canada Border Services.

It's alleged that 55-year-old Yeon Soo Lee, and his son, 26-year-old Joo Hyup Lee, engaged in labour offences relating to several immigrant employees at their businesses. They're alleged to have forced immigrant employees to work 80-to-90-hour weeks without proper compensation, submitted falsified work schedules, harassed employees, and more.

"The Employment Standards branch of Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, investigated multiple businesses owned and operated by Yeon Soo Lee and Joo Hyup Lee for allegations of human trafficking, exploitation of vulnerable workers and violations of the Employment Standards Code," said a message from Employment Standards branch, who often work alongside RCMP in these investigations. "Employment Standards recovered more than $160,000 in unpaid earnings for employees, and for unauthorized deductions from those earnings."

Canada's temporary foreign workers program has come under scrutiny in recent years as allegations have surfaced about the program being a breeding ground for rampant abuse by corporations and businesses. In this case, four people were identified -- both men and women -- however, police believe there are more victims.

"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 Inspector Breanne Brown of the Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch. "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."

As a result of the investigation, the father and son were charged with the following.

Yeon Soo Lee, a 55-year-old Edmonton resident:

• Trafficking in Persons (x4);
• Material Benefits from trafficking (x4);
• Criminal Harassment.

Joo Hyup Lee, a 26-year-old Edmonton resident:

• Trafficking in Persons; and
• Material Benefits from trafficking.

The Occupational Health and Safety branch also conducted inspections of both the Calmar gas station and motel in Fox Creek related to compliance with OHS laws. The inspections and follow-up inspections resulted in a $60,000 administrative penalty for repeated non-compliance with OHS requirements. A $10,000 administrative penalty was also issued to Yeon Soo Lee for hindering and interfering with an OHS officer.

Both individuals have been released and are set to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie on Aug. 11, 2025.