The RCMP seized electronic items from three locations in Whitehorse last week in a national child pornography sweep that lead to more than 50 arrests in other parts of the country.
Whitehorse police used search warrants at three undisclosed locations in the area to round up computers used to exchange child pornography.
The RCMP did not follow up the seizures with any arrests, said spokesperson Sergeant Mark Groves.
“There were three search warrants conducted,” said Groves. “I can’t get into how many different computer devices were seized. But various items were seized during the various warrants.”
The seizures are just a small part of Operation Salvo, a co-ordinated investigation among different police forces across the country. Some of the charges laid in other regions include sexual assault, sexual interference, and possessing, making and distributing child pornography.
“This is Canada’s largest (child-porn bust) to date,” said Groves.
“Obviously there will be follow-up and further investigations will be done because the evidence gained will be information that we did not previously have.”
The police indicated that unsecured wireless internet may have been used to trade child pornography and warned internet users to secure their connections. Pedophiles use unsecured wireless to keep investigators from locating their computers.
The RCMP are not monitoring the owners of any of the seized equipment. (James Munson)