66 Australians Arrested As Canadian Police Smash "Horrific" Child Sex Abuse Ring

ABC News
November 14, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-15/global-child-pornography-ring-smashed-by-canadian-and-australia/5093498

Sixty-six Australians are among more than 300 people arrested after Canadian authorities smashed what they say is one of the worst child sex abuse rings they have seen.

Canadian police say their investigation into a multi-million-dollar child sex abuse video website has led to the arrests of nearly 350 people internationally, including teachers, police officers, doctors and priests.

A total of 386 victims of the ring were rescued from harm worldwide, including six in Australia - five in Western Australia, and one in the ACT.

"It is alleged that officers located hundreds of thousands of images detailing horrific acts against young children, some of the worst that they have ever viewed," Toronto police spokeswoman Joanna Beaven-Desjardins said.

Arrests began in August during the Australian-based component of the operation, known as Operation Thunderer, with those charged facing a combined 399 charges of child exploitation offences.

The Australian suspects in the operation are aged between 25 and 72 and have been charged with a range of offences including accessing, possessing, producing and distributing online child exploitation material.

They include a Catholic priest, a former priest and two teachers, all from New South Wales. But Queensland is the state with the largest number of suspects, with 33 people facing charges.

Every image is a crime scene, says AFP's cyber crime boss

The AFP's head of Cyber Crime Operations, Commander Glen McEwen, says more arrests are expected as investigations continue.

"As you'd appreciate there's a lot of forensic analysis that needs to be conducted in these types of investigations, and we are expecting more charges to be laid," he said.

Commander McEwen said every child exploitation image found in the operation was a crime scene.

"Every piece of material is child sexual abuse and those who seek to access, produce and deal in such images are just as complicit in that abuse as the persons orchestrating the production of such material.

"This investigation is a powerful demonstration of what can and will continue to be achieved by law enforcement on a global scale to combat child sexual exploitation, protect our children and bring offenders to justice.

"The AFP and state and territory police worked relentlessly alongside international partner agencies to bring these offenders to justice," he added.

"This global investigation has disrupted a widespread international network of suspects, in a powerful demonstration of law enforcement working together to protect children around the world.

"If you choose to view and circulate child abuse images, you will be investigated, pursued and charged, regardless of where you are located."

Toronto man ran multi-million-dollar operation from warehouse

The investigation began after undercover officers made contact with Brian Way, a man suspected of sharing child exploitation material, in October 2010.

The 42-year-old Toronto man's home and business were raided seven months later and he was arrested and charged with operating a website that sold and distributed child exploitation.

Way now faces charges of making, possessing, distributing and exporting child exploitation, featuring explicit images of boys ranging in age from toddlers to teens.

Police say he "paid various people to have children filmed (predominantly) in eastern European countries for the purpose of creating movies for sale on his website", and that the videos were edited, packaged and sold from his Toronto warehouse.

AUDIO: World wide child abuse image network uncovered (AM)

The website, azovfilms.com, allegedly earned him more than $4 million annually.

The investigation led to the discovery of Way's customer list, prompting investigations by authorities globally.

Commander McEwen credited increasingly sophisticated technology for helping investigators quickly identify offenders.

"There's a fair warning to offenders that if you are using the internet, if you are abusing children, if you are accessing child exploitation material, we will come and find you and we will prosecute you."

Queensland, federal police praised for investigation

Toronto police praised the work of Queensland Police and Australian Federal Police, with police service chief William Blair thanking international law enforcement agencies for their help in busting the exploitation ring.

"I think one of the most extraordinary things that we will speak to today is the national and international cooperation among law enforcement to deal with one of the most important challenges facing all of us in our society and certainly in law enforcement," Mr Blair said.

"There is no greater responsibility for those of us who have sworn to serve and protect than the protection of our children."

Australia's Justice Minister Michael Keenan also congratulated federal and state police for their work in a global investigation into a child exploitation website operating out of Canada.

"This is a fantastic result for law enforcement across the country with Australian police bringing numerous offenders to account and removing six children from harm," he said.

"The exploitation of our most vulnerable members of society cannot be tolerated. To prey on and exploit children is a horrific crime and those offenders must be brought to justice."

The United States Postal Inspection Service was also involved in the probe, as were authorities in Sweden, Spain, South Africa, and Hong Kong, among others.

Leading child protection advocate Bravehearts has also praised the work of the police.

"Right across Australia we have an amazing police force and we need the technology to catch up with these criminals," founder Hetty Johnston said.