Sûreté du Quebec (SQ) say 23 men have been arrested in connection with a province-wide raid on child sexual abuse material online.
More than 160 police officers from the Integrated Child Pornography Task Force (EILP-L) coordinated across Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, Longueuil and Gatineau carried out the major operation from May 11 to 14.
The men whose ages range from 26 to 73 have been charged with possession, distribution and access to child sexual abuse and exploitation material. Seven of the men charged remain in custody.
Computer equipment was seized for analysis during 25 searches which included over four million CSEM files. A total of four victims have been identified so far.
“The operation carried out this week is the result of significant collaboration and coordination,” said Lieutenant Katherine Guimond, head of SQ’s division investigating the sexual exploitation of children online.
The public is encouraged to report any instances of online sexual exploitation of minors to cyberaide.ca.
