In a major crackdown on online child sexual exploitation, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested 36 men across the province. The arrests are the culmination of an extensive undercover operation where officers posed as children on various online platforms, waiting for individuals to initiate contact.

“Investigators utilized undercover techniques to access online chatrooms and social media applications in order to identify, locate and arrest persons looking to sexually exploit children,” the OPP stated in a press release.

The accused, ranging in age from 18 to 73, now face a staggering 128 charges in total. The majority of these charges include luring a person under 16, making sexually explicit material available to a child, and possession or distribution of child pornography.

This significant operation highlights the ongoing battle against online child sexual exploitation and underscores the importance of vigilance and proactive law enforcement strategies in protecting vulnerable children.