By IANS
Toronto : In the biggest crackdown on child pornography in Canada, 22 people, including two people in their sixties, have been arrested in major cities of Ontario province.
The arrests came after a month-long investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and 18 local police departments.
Among those arrested Tuesday were a woman, a youth and 20 men. The police said they were looking for four more people. They face charges of luring children, and preparing and distributing pornographic material.
Arrests were made in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Toronto, Guelph, Peterborough, Oshawa, Mississauga, Espanola, Brampton, Cornwall, Sault Ste. Marie, London, Red Lake, Burlington, Milton, Brantford and Hamilton.
One of those arrested was a 64-year-old man who possessed and distributed child pornography to clients. He was arrested in the city of Cambridge near Toronto. Another 60-year-old man was arrested in Ottawa.
Making this announcement at a news conference here, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Julian Fantino said: “Today is a great day for children and communities. The exploitation of children – by whatever means – is appalling and unconscionable.”
He said since Tuesday happened to be Safer Internet Day, “It is appropriate that we are here today, making this announcement. It is a day recognised in 43 countries worldwide to highlight the need to make the Internet a safe and useful tool for our children to access for both educational and personal use.”
The police chief said his men began investigations in January and tracked these people who were using the Internet to distribute images of child sexual abuse.