Three Toronto men, along with 54 others across the country have been arrested this week in Canada’s largest-ever child pornography investigation — Project Salvo.
The investigation into Internet-based child sexual abuse is the largest co-ordinated effort of its kind, involving 23 investigators, 71 search warrants, 100 criminal charges, and arrests in every province and territory. Charges include sexual assault, sexual interference and possessing, making and distributing child pornography.
Project Salvo, co-ordinated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police through its National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, worked with 30 law enforcement agencies throughout Canada, including Toronto police, Peel police, and the OPP.
“Additional searches, arrests and charges are anticipated in the coming weeks,” said RCMP Sgt. Dave Fox at a press conference Thursday morning.
“Over 130 computers have been seized, dozens and dozens of computer hard drives and thousands and thousands of computer storage devices.”
Some children were removed from their homes as a result of the investigation.
The Toronto men were arrested and charged with possessing and accessing child pornography earlier this week.
The same charges were laid on a Mississauga man and a Brampton man after Peel police made the arrests on Monday.
Following the announcement of the arrests, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection announced the launch of a child sexual abuse prevention kit to help parents and teachers deal with issues related to sexual abuse.
The centre also operates www.cybertip.ca, which, since its launch in 2002, has received more than 35,000 reports from Canadians reporting suspicions of child pornography.
