Canadian police arrest 60 suspects in child porn probe

USPA News - Police in the Canadian province of Ontario have arrested 60 people after more than 7,000 computers were identified during a six-month-long investigation into the production, distribution and possession of child pornography, authorities announced on Thursday. The suspects, ranging in age from underage teenagers to 63, were arrested across the province after police identified 7,000 individual IP addresses over a period of 180 days as likely having downloaded child pornography.

"This is a problem that is so big. Can we ever cut the head off? That`s gonna be very difficult," said Chief Superintendent Don Bell of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Authorities said the suspects were not working as a group and few details were provided about the methods used to identify the suspects. They said 99 search warrants had been executed as of Thursday, resulting in 249 charges in total against the 60 suspects, which includes three youths, but more arrests are expected. The vast majority of suspects faced charges relating to the possession and distribution of child pornography, but five suspects were also facing charges for the production of child pornography. Fourteen child victims were identified during the investigation, which also yielded quantities of drugs and prohibited weapons, OPP said. Among those arrested are an adult man and an adult female from London, Ontario, who were both charged with a number of offenses, including charges for making, possessing and distributing child pornography. The charges further include one count of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference with a person under 16, and two counts for the possession of drugs and a prohibited weapon. "This investigation highlights the pervasiveness of Internet-based dangers of child luring, sexual exploitation and abuse," said Inspector Scott Naylor of OPP`s Child Sexual Exploitation Unit. "Children, teens and parents also have a responsibility to educate themselves to ensure their Internet and social networking experiences can be as rewarding as they want it to be and as safe as it needs to be." Det. Staff Sgt. Frank Goldschmidt said child predators become "very efficient and they`re very good at what they do" in seeking out children to prey upon. "These individuals, they learn from each other online on how to effectively and successfully prey on children and establish relationships online with them," he said.