Police say 17 people have been arrested and charged with a combined 55 criminal offences as part of an Ontario-wide child sexual exploitation initiative.
Called “Project Brace”, 15 police services participated in the initiative in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit.
Officials say it involved online child exploitation investigations to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.
Investigators targeted individuals making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
A suspect from Smiths Falls and another from Brockville was arrested as part of the investigation.
While this investigation did not directly identify any victims, police say investigators initiated 23 cases that remain active.
