International online child sex abuse "Project Mercury" April 2018

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http://torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/40782

[h=1]Project Mercury,
More than 150 arrests and a dozen children rescued in
international child sexual abuse investigation[/h]

In 2014, the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom discovered an online group allegedly involved in the sexual abuse of children. As offenders and locations were identified, information was shared with police agencies across the world, including the Child Exploitation Section of the Toronto Police Service.

Further investigation by officers revealed other offenders and the Toronto Police Service, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, distributed information to other police agencies.

In July 2015, during the investigation, TPS officers observed the live-stream sexual abuse of a six-year-old child. Several of those allegedly watching, and directing, this abuse were identified and arrested by local police services. The child was rescued and more than 20 offenders were arrested.

In March 2016, during the investigation, TPS officers found sexual abuse material involving an eight-year-old child. Officers also found advertisements for the sexual abuse of the child. The offender was identified and arrested by the RCMP in Saskatoon. The child was rescued.

Over the course of the investigation, officers in other jurisdictions observed the live-stream sexual abuse of children. Two occurrences, one in December 2015 and another in October 2017, resulted in a dozen arrests and two children rescued.

Since 2014, 153 arrests have been made and, of those convicted, sentences have ranged from 30 months to 60 years. Many are still before the courts.

 

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http://torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/40782

Law enforcement agencies around the world will continue their efforts as more offenders are identified with every arrest and with every child rescued.

The Toronto Police Service would like to thank its partners with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Crime Agency for their ongoing assistance. A complete list of jurisdictions involved in Project Mercury is as follows:

Canada

Ottawa
Belleville
Thunder Bay
Edmonton
Saskatoon
Quebec
New Brunswick
Newfoundland


United States

Oregon
California
Utah
Arizona
New Mexico
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Texas
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana
Illinois
Michigan
Kentucky
Tennessee
Ohio
Georgia
Florida
New York
Pennsylvania
Virginia
North Carolina
Delaware


International

United Kingdom
Germany
Italy
France
Ireland
Denmark
Belgium
Slovenia


If you are involved in the online sexual abuse of children, you will be arrested. Get help, contact a lawyer and call your local police agency.

Anyone who is aware of online child sexual abuse can call their local police or one of the agencies listed below:

In Canada, the national centre for the reporting of online child sexual exploitation, CyberTip.ca.

In the United States, Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

In the United Kingdom, visit the National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and Online Protection.

 

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https://globalnews.ca/news/4140431/project-mercury-child-sex-abuse/
April 12 2018

[h=1]153 arrested, a dozen children rescued in global child sex abuse probe[/h]

Toronto police said they observed the live-stream sexual abuse of a six-year-old child in July 2015, which then led to the arrests of 20 people. The child was rescued.

WATCH: Warning: This video contains disturbing content. Discretion is advised. Toronto police detail ‘Project Mercury’ probe into online sexual abuse of children

In March 2016, the Toronto police exploitation unit discovered sexual abuse material involving an eight-year-old child and advertisements online.

Officers managed to identify the suspect and he was arrested by RCMP in Saskatoon. The child was also rescued.
Investigators said police in other jurisdictions also observed the live-stream sexual abuse of children. In two cases, one in December 2015 and another in October 2017, a dozen arrests were made and two children were rescued.

 

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https://www.cp24.com/news/doctor-te...hild-sex-abuse-investigation-police-1.3882674
rbbm.

Graham Ellis of the U.K’s National Crime Agency told reporters that many of those arrested as part of the investigation were people who had occupied positions of trust.

“We’ve safeguarded 58 children as a direct result of this operation,” Ellis said. “We’ve also removed nine people from a position of trust. By that, I mean four teachers, a doctor, a member of police staff, an A&E nurse, a priest, and a private music tutor. We’ve also prevented a child being adopted by an offender and we’ve removed a child from foster care.”

He said the July 2015 incident observed by Toronto police led U.K. police to arrest and prosecute six offenders.

“Of those six, the most serious was a youth worker who drove vulnerable adults around the United Kingdom,” Ellis said. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Other people prosecuted in connection with that incident included a charity worker and primary school teacher, Ellis added.

In all, Project Mercury involved 23 U.S. states, as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium and Slovenia.

Police have published a list of those charged and or convicted in Canada as part of the investigation.