Close X
Monday, September 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

47 Canadians charged in global investigation

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Mar, 2022 01:19 PM
  • 47 Canadians charged in global investigation

Forty-seven Canadians have been arrested and 12 children have been removed from abusive situations as part of a global investigation into online child sexual exploitation, the RCMP said Wednesday.

The Mounties said 186 charges have been laid in Canada so far during the investigation, dubbed Operation H. Arrests have been made in eight provinces over the past two years, they said, adding the investigation is still underway.

The RCMP say the probe began in New Zealand in the fall of 2019, after law enforcement officials there were alerted by an electronic service provider who had discovered a large number of subscribers sharing "some of the most graphic and violent child sexual abuse material online."

Some 90,000 accounts were identified as possessing or sharing child sexual abuse material, they said.

"Online child sexual exploitation is borderless and is among the most heinous crimes targeting our most vulnerable – our children. ... Operation H is a prime example of how global collaboration can help all of our countries to protect children," RCMP Supt. Andre Boileau of the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre said in a news release.

New Zealand authorities said in a statement that the child abuse material "is some of the most egregious investigators have been exposed to. Many of the children featured in the images and videos were just infants who were exposed to obvious and intentional pain and suffering."

The international investigation has led to the arrests of dozens of suspects in New Zealand, and the safeguarding of 146 children around the world, they and the European Union police agency Europol said Wednesday.

More than 800 cases have been opened internationally and more than 100 suspects identified across the EU, Europol said.

Toronto police, who were contacted as part of the probe, said they have arrested and charged six men with a total of 18 offences, including some related to possessing, accessing and distributing child sex abuse material.

Toronto police Insp. Justin Vander Heyden of the sex crimes unit said one of the accused has since been convicted and jailed, one has died, and the other four are still going through the justice system.

The suspects are between the ages of 31 and 41.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. looks for input on anti-racism legislation

B.C. looks for input on anti-racism legislation
Rachna Singh, the parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives, says the public feedback will help better identify systemic racism in existing government programs. B.C. residents can share their thoughts through an online government portal until Nov. 30.

B.C. looks for input on anti-racism legislation

Mexican wildfire fighters set to leave B.C.

Mexican wildfire fighters set to leave B.C.
Ninety-eight firefighters and three support staff arrived from Mexico on July 24 as hundreds of wildfires flared and drought conditions gripped much of the southern half of the province.

Mexican wildfire fighters set to leave B.C.

Liberal MP condemns hate crime against Sikh man in Canada

Liberal MP condemns hate crime against Sikh man in Canada
Truro police chief Dave MacNeil said officers responded to 494 Robie St. around 2 a.m. that morning, where they found Singh with life-threatening injuries.

Liberal MP condemns hate crime against Sikh man in Canada

Estimated cost of COVID patient in ICU: $50,000

Estimated cost of COVID patient in ICU: $50,000
The report released Thursday says those with COVID-19 remain in hospital for about 15 days, twice as long as the typical pneumonia patient whose treatment cost is about $8,000, and that more of those sick with the virus are admitted to ICU and ventilated.

Estimated cost of COVID patient in ICU: $50,000

Leaders gird for round two ahead of English debate

Leaders gird for round two ahead of English debate
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul will convene again at 9 p.m. eastern time for the second back-to-back debate.

Leaders gird for round two ahead of English debate

Death of driver at drive-thru:VPD

Death of driver at drive-thru:VPD
The vehicle rolled forward, colliding into a structural piece of the restaurant. The driver was unable to free himself from the vehicle as he was pinned between the vehicle door and frame.

Death of driver at drive-thru:VPD