OTTAWA, Ontario, June 19, 2014 – Today, the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, commended law enforcement agencies along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC), on their efforts in dismantling a large-scale operation targeting child sex offenders. The operation, which began in February 2014, involved over 40 police agencies and was coordinated by the RCMP’s NCECC.
“I would like to congratulate and recognize the members of the RCMP and all participating law enforcement agencies for their efforts in apprehending those suspected of committing heinous crimes against children. Our Government has been clear: those who possess, distribute or produce child pornography are committing serious crimes and we continue to take measures to deter this activity in our society.”
Operation Snapshot III follows the two previously successful operations: Operation Snapshot in 2012, targeted individuals in the Prairie and Northern regions of Canada, and Operation Snapshot II in 2013, focused on individuals in Atlantic Canada. The two operations combined were responsible for rescue of five children, the arrest of 54 individuals and the seizure of millions of child sexual exploitation images and countless leads in other child sexual exploitation cases.
For additional information on this operation, please refer to the following RCMP news release: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/2014/06-19-snapshot-iii-eng.htm
For information on the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, please visit: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ncecc-cncee/about-ausujet-eng.htm
The Public Safety website Getcybersafe.gc.ca also has important information about protecting yourselves and children on-line.
Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) and Get Cyber Safe (@getcybersafe) on Twitter.
For further information:
Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
Media Relations:
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
National Headquarters
(613) 843-5999