Ontario Police Charge 36 Men in Major Child Exploitation Probe

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged 36 men with a total of 128 criminal offences related to a coordinated child sexual exploitation investigation involving 21 police services across the province. The investigation, conducted from March 31 to April 11, used undercover officers posing as children online to identify suspects, who ranged in age from 18 to 73, including one listed on the national sex offender registry. Among the accused are individuals from various regions such as Niagara, Barrie, and Sudbury, facing charges including luring a person under 16, making sexually explicit material available to children, and obtaining sexual services from minors. Police identified nine real child victims who are now safe and emphasized that 51 related investigations remain active. Authorities urge the public to provide information and encourage parents to discuss online safety with their children amid a noted rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation. The Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy highlights the ease with which predators can access children online and stresses ongoing vigilance and support for victims.