Police arrest 57 in countrywide child pornography sweep

More than 50 people across the country have been arrested as a result of a police investigation into child sexual abuse online.

In Ottawa on Thursday, representatives of numerous police agencies unveiled the results of Project Salvo, a five-month investigation in which more than 100 charges were laid against individuals from all provinces and territories.

"The operation was an unqualified success," RCMP Supt. John Bilinski said. "The key was agency participation from sea to sea to sea."

More than 30 police agencies across the country collaborated on the investigation, launched in November 2008, before undertaking a series of raids this week. In all, 57 people have been arrested and more than 70 search warrants have been executed so far.

"Additional arrests and charges are expected in the coming weeks," Sgt. Dave Fox of the RCMP-led National Child Exploitation Co-ordination Centre said.

Citing ongoing investigations, police at a national news conference in Ottawa were sparse with details from specific jurisdictions. But details are emerging from regional forces themselves.

• In Alberta, members of the Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) team targeted suspects in Calgary, Medicine Hat and Blairmore. The Northern Alberta ICE team in the Edmonton area executed additional warrants.
• One person in the Northwest Territories was arrested this week and charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. RCMP told CBC News they don't believe at this time that any children in the territory are in danger in this case.
• After executing a search warrant at a house in New Brunswick, police arrested a 28-year-old Moncton-area man.
• Three Toronto-area men were arrested and charged.
• In Ottawa, police arrested seven men and one woman.
• Eleven people were arrested in British Columbia.
• A 13-year-old boy in Corner Brook, N.L., was caught up in Project Salvo. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary searched the boy's home on Tuesday. He's being processed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police said new investigative technologies played a large role in the operation.

"We're dealing with a dark side of human behaviour, so to wipe that out completely is impossible," said Lianna McDonald, director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

"But law enforcement is prioritizing this and we are having success," she said.