Oakville restaurant owner, head chef charged in human trafficking investigation

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 17, 2025 12:41 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Two Oakville, Ont., men are facing quality trafficking charges for allegedly exploiting 3 Mexican men who worked astatine their sushi restaurant, Halton constabulary said Tuesday.

Police said they launched an probe successful March aft being tipped disconnected that 3 workers were being exploited astatine August 8 — a franchise sushi edifice — successful Oakville.

Warrants were carried retired astatine the edifice and 2 Oakville homes, constabulary said.

At the homes, "individuals were recovered surviving successful cramped, overcrowded, and unsanitary conditions," constabulary said successful a quality release.

"The victims were subjected to power that near them feeling powerless and dependent, with violations extending to their intersexual integrity," constabulary allege.

Investigators said much victims came guardant pursuing the searches.

A 46-year-old Oakville antheral who constabulary said owns the August 8 franchise successful the municipality faces a slew of charges, including but not constricted to: 3 counts of trafficking successful persons, possession of the spot of transgression implicit $5,000, and unauthorized employment of overseas nationals.

The restaurant's 27-year-old caput cook besides faces quality trafficking charges and is additionally charged with 3 counts of intersexual assault. 

Both men were arrested past week and are being held successful custody pending a bail hearing. 

Halton constabulary said its quality trafficking part is inactive investigating and is asking anyone with much accusation to interaction them. 

The work said successful a quality merchandise it's imaginable determination are much victims.

CBC is seeking remark from August 8 for this story.