The RCMP has announced 30 arrests were made as part of their Operation Snapshot operation targeting online child predators.
The RCMP's Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (CPCMEC) announced the results Tuesday from its multi-agency investigative operation targeting online child predators. Operation Snapshot began in June with one main priority: to identify high-risk offenders in possession of and distributing child abuse images across peer-to-peer file sharing networks, and to charge these individuals.
According to the RCMP, one child was rescued and more than 30 individuals were arrested as part of the effort. Charges include: indecent exposure, invitation to sexual touching, accessing child pornography, possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, making child pornography, Internet luring and breach of court order.
Over 1,000 computers and hard drives were seized in Operation Snapshot along with hundreds of thousands of images.
CPCMEC developed the operation in conjunction with its domestic policing partners in the prairie region as well as Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Their policing partners in Operation Snapshot include Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) northern and southern ICE teams, Saskatchewan ICE unit, Saskatoon Police Service, Regina Police Service, Prince Albert Police Service, F Division RCMP (Saskatchewan), Winnipeg Police Service, D Division RCMP (Manitoba), G Division RCMP (Northwest Territories) and V Division RCMP (Nunavut Territory).
"I am very proud of the professionalism and quality of service of the men and women on this team," said Commissioner Bob Paulson in a statement.
"These types of investigations are very demanding and stressful for the officers involved, but through this operation we are sending a clear message to individuals who are engaged in this exploitive and destructive behaviour: we will find you and prosecute you."
Paulson also praised efforts of the various police forces to come together to fight these crimes. "No single agency can deal with this crime by itself. This effort provides a concrete example of what can be accomplished through collaboration to protect the most vulnerable members of our society: our children."
