A Hamilton-area man has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to human trafficking charges, following a major investigation into a criminal network that smuggled and exploited dozens of foreign nationals across southern Ontario.
On This Page, You Will Find:
- The story behind a major human trafficking conviction in Ontario
- How foreign nationals were illegally brought and exploited in Canada
- Sentencing outcomes for all three convicted individuals
- A timeline of the investigation from 2018 to 2025
- How to report suspected immigration or trafficking crimes
Central Figure in Labour Exploitation Scheme
Mario Roca Morales was convicted on three counts of human trafficking in February 2024. Authorities said he played a central role in a long-running scheme that saw vulnerable foreign nationals brought into Canada under the pretense of temporary visits and then forced into exploitative labour.
Beginning in 2018, the joint CBSA-RCMP investigation revealed that individuals were flown into the country via major airports including Toronto Pearson, Hamilton, and Montreal-Trudeau. Once in Canada, they were funnelled into illegal employment by agencies linked to Morales and his associates. Most of the work was located in the Hamilton–Niagara region.
The jobs were low-paying and offered no legal protections. Many workers, unfamiliar with Canadian laws and facing language barriers, were left entirely dependent on those exploiting them.
Shocking Living Conditions Exposed
In 2019, officers carried out search warrants at eight locations across the Golden Horseshoe area, including seven in Hamilton and one in Milton. What they found was grim: 84 foreign nationals living in overcrowded, unsanitary homes. Some properties held up to 25 people. Insects and vermin were common, with infestations of bed bugs and cockroaches in several dwellings.
Authorities described the conditions as “deplorable and dangerous.” The victims were reportedly unaware of their rights and lacked access to medical care or legal assistance.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Sylvain Tessier said the operation was “systemic and deliberate,” adding that the high quality of the investigation was reflected in Morales’s guilty plea and conviction. “This wasn’t an accident. It was organised and profit-driven,” he said.
Co-Accused Receive Lighter Sentences
Two other individuals involved in the network were also sentenced. Christian Vitela pled guilty in April 2025 to employing foreign nationals without authorisation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. He received a conditional discharge, two years of probation, and a condition that bars him from employing foreign workers.
Miurel Bracamonte, who entered a guilty plea in 2023 for a similar offence, was sentenced to a four-month conditional sentence, eight months’ probation, and ordered to pay $2,771 in restitution to one of the victims.
CBSA and RCMP Praise Successful Outcome
Authorities said the successful prosecution demonstrates the value of cross-agency collaboration. Abeid Morgan, Acting Director of Intelligence and Enforcement at the CBSA’s Southern Ontario Region, said the investigation reflects Canada’s commitment to protecting the rights of foreign nationals and upholding immigration laws.
“This case shows our ability to act decisively against those who exploit the immigration system and vulnerable people,” he said.
How the Public Can Help
The CBSA continues to urge the public to report suspected human trafficking or illegal employment involving foreign nationals. Tips can be submitted to the Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060 or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Morales’s conviction brings a measure of justice to dozens of individuals who were misled and mistreated. It also sends a clear message: Canada’s immigration system will not tolerate exploitation—and those who abuse it will be held to account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mario Roca Morales and why was he sentenced to prison?
Mario Roca Morales was a central figure in a human trafficking ring in Ontario. He received an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to exploiting foreign nationals for labour.
How were foreign nationals brought into Canada in this case?
They entered Canada legally as visitors through major airports, but were then directed into unauthorised work arranged by employment agencies linked to the trafficking network.
What conditions were the victims living in?
Victims were found in overcrowded and unsanitary housing. In some cases, up to 25 people shared one home, many of which were infested with bed bugs and cockroaches.
What other sentences were handed down?
Christian Vitela received a conditional discharge and probation. Miurel Bracamonte was sentenced to a conditional term and probation, and was ordered to pay restitution.
How can I report human trafficking or illegal employment in Canada?
You can call the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Authorities welcome tips from the public.
