Hamilton, Halton, Niagara locals among 63 charged in child exploitation bust

A joint investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and 25 other police services has led to 63 people being arrested including residents from the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara regions. Project Time was initiated by the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy.

Detectives say a total of 213 charges were laid and 154 investigations are still ongoing.

The project identified individuals who made, possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material.

Officers say that eight of those accused were repeat offenders. Some suspects’ names are revealed, while others are withheld due to publication bans.

The individual charges included offences such as possession of child sexual abuse material, accessing such material, unauthorized possession of firearms and bestiality.

Among the list of adult and youth male as well as adult females is one man from Hamilton, one man from Burlington, three men from Brantford, four adults from Welland, two men from Port Colborne, three men from St. Catharines and one from Niagara Falls.

OPP say 51 victims were also identified, safeguarded and provided with support.

READ MORE: St. Catharines man facing internet child exploitation charges: Niagara police