REGINA — Following the recent arrests of two men in connection with a suspected labour trafficking operation at a trucking business in the Rural Municipality of Edenwold, the Saskatchewan RCMP is reminding the public that human trafficking is happening in their own backyard.
White Butte RCMP received a report in November 2025 about a potential trafficking situation. Officers learned an employee was allegedly forced to pay a large sum of cash to secure a job and permanent residency. The business owners allegedly withheld wages, forced employees to drive unsafe loads and required long hours without compensation.
Police charged Himanshu Kundra, 36, of the RM of Edenwold, and Jagtar Sadiora, 50, of Regina, with human trafficking, receiving a financial benefit from human trafficking, and withholding or destroying documents.
While cases like this bring the issue into the spotlight, the Saskatchewan RCMP Human Trafficking Counter-Exploitation Unit says labour trafficking largely remains a hidden crime.
Sgt. Kelly Plamondon, the unit's commander, said labour trafficking differs from sex trafficking because it strictly involves exploitation for work.
"Some of the things that the community members and the public can look for is people working really long hours at a business," Plamondon said. "They don't necessarily have their documents with them."
Plamondon noted victims might be malnourished or hesitant to speak with the public.
"They may leave the talking to the boss, per se, or the other person that's not being trafficked," she said.
Labour trafficking frequently occurs in non-unionized sectors. Plamondon identified domestic servitude, the food and restaurant industry, hotel custodial staff, construction and commercial agriculture as areas where the crime is more common.
When investigators uncover a trafficking operation, their first priority is not immediately securing evidence, but ensuring the safety of the survivors. Traffickers often exert significant control over victims, making investigations complex.
"The first thing is the human behind the crime, right?" Plamondon said. "We make sure that we deal with the needs that are right in front of us first. So that may be a safe place to stay, medical needs, food, that type of thing."
A major red flag for both labour and sex trafficking is a lack of freedom. Plamondon said victims often do not have the ability to leave their workplace, and attempts to do so are met with coercion, threats or punishment.
"I think the biggest thing is we always think it's happening elsewhere, but it's at our back door," Plamondon said. "It's happening in Saskatchewan. We need to make sure that we support the victims or survivors of human trafficking and make it stop."
Anyone who suspects a human trafficking situation or notices warning signs is strongly encouraged to contact their local police.
