4 charged in southern Manitoba after thousands of child pornography images found: RCMP

Four men were arrested in southern Manitoba in connection with a child exploitation investigation that resulted in the seizure of thousands of child pornography images, RCMP say.

Manitoba RCMP’s internet child exploitation unit alleges three children under the age of six were removed from situations “where they were being sexually abused and exploited.”

Mounties say five search warrants were executed in three separate southern Manitoba communities from March 18-25.

“The RCMP will not be identifying any individuals or communities that were part of the investigation to protect the identity of the victims,” police said in a news release.

The four suspects – aged 37 to 56 – were charged with distributing, uploading, or possessing child pornography. One of the suspects was also charged with making child pornography.

Manitoba’s ICE unit was helped by the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre, police say.

“This is four arrests and three children removed from traumatic situations in a span of only 10 days. I wish I could say that this is a success, and it absolutely is in terms of getting these kids to safety, but it is really a drop in the bucket when it comes to the material we seized,” Cpl. Gord Olson of the RCMP ICE Unit said in a release.

“I know people will be surprised at how much child sexual abuse and exploitation material we encountered, but the truth is, this problem is prolific. It is in every community, and so many children are affected by it. We continue to do everything we can to combat child exploitation and encourage parents to be mindful of how your children are engaging on social media.”

RCMP are continuing to investigate.