36 men charged with 128 offences as part of child sex exploitation investigation, OPP says

Ontario Provincial Police say they have arrested and charged 36 men with a combined total of 128 offences as part of a child sexual exploitation investigation.

The accused range in age from 18 to 73, the OPP said in a news release on Thursday.

Police said investigators used undercover techniques to access online chat rooms and social media applications to identify, locate and arrest people looking to sexually exploit children.

"These results highlight a sobering reality: predators can easily reach children in online spaces," OPP Det. Staff Sgt. Tim Brown said in the release.

"We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to talk to your children about staying safe online. Just as you wouldn't leave your child alone in a city, don't let them navigate the online world alone."

The OPP described the operation as a "luring investigation."

That means officers posed as children online and waited for people to make contact. Nine victims were identified. Police said the victims were provided with support and are safe.

One of the accused arrived at a meeting location with snacks, while another arrived with lubricant and condoms, police said. One of the arrested men was listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.

Police said 51 investigations are continuing.

According to the OPP, 21 police forces from what is known as the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy took part in the investigation from March 31 to April 11. 

Police said police forces involved in the provincial strategy have noted a rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years. 

The provincial strategy is made up of the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, 26 municipal police forces, Ontario's ministry of the attorney general and the ministry of the solicitor general.