Written by Len Humes, Oye! Times
Published on Wednesday, 08 December 2010 13:46

In November 2009, in partnership with the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 13 Canadian police services, and international police services, officers from the Child Exploitation Section of the Toronto Police Service's Sex Crimes Unit launched an international investigation into the online trading of child sexual abuse images and videos.

Known as Project Sanctuary, this investigation began when an undercover officer made contact with a man who was trading child sexual abuse images and videos over the Internet. This information was forwarded to the local law enforcement agency and a 50-year-old man was arrested, charged and has been convicted.

Using intelligence gathered during and after the arrest, undercover officers spent the next year infiltrating a worldwide network of men who were allegedly trading child sexual abuse images and videos and, in some cases, creating these images by allegedly abusing children.

To date, Project Sanctuary has led to the arrest of 57 men worldwide, facing a total of 218 charges. In the United States, 26 men face 56 charges; in Canada, 25 men face 131 charges; and in Europe, 6 men face 31 charges.

In total, 25 children have been rescued: in the United States, 10 children; in Canada, 12 children; and in Europe, 3 children.

“This operation is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through cooperative police work between the U.S. and Canada. Nothing is more important than our combined efforts to prevent the exploitation of our children," said Tom Blanchard, ICE HSI Attache in Canada. "ICE and the Toronto Police Service have an outstanding relationship and routinely work together on investigations involving criminal activity that affects both our nations.”

Between November 2009 and December 2010, the following men have been arrested and charged, in Canada, as part of Project Sanctuary (full list not included)...

... Randall Philip Steininger, 21, of Regina, Saskatchewan,
     - Possession of Child Pornography
     - Make available Child Pornography...