Kelowna

RCMP have confirmed a Kelowna man was one of 11 people arrested in connection with an alleged organized child exploitation network operating on Facebook.

The international investigation, known as 'Project Ocean,' involved police and investigative agencies in Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

To date, six people have been arrested and charged with child pornography offences in the United Kingdom including the alleged head of the network, while three were arrested in Australia and two in Canada.

Kelowna RCMP Constable Steve Holmes has confirmed one of the Canadians arrested is from Kelowna.

"He was released without charges, however, the RCMP investigators are working with Crown in order to procure charges relating to possession and distribution of child pornography," says Holmes.

According to Holmes, police seized a computer and other undisclosed items from his home.

Holmes could not say when charges would be forthcoming.

Investigation into the online network began in Australia back in March of this year.

“Criminal activity of this type is often described as a borderless crime because there’s no geographical restriction on where offenders may try to target their victims,” says Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan.

“Policing in this social networking environment is a challenge, but the co-operation during this operation demonstrates that international law enforcement is united in a global fight against online child exploitation material."

Jim Gamble, the Chief Executive of the UK based Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre, says the network is made up of individuals who share an interest in viewing what he termed 'extremely disturbing' images of children suffering horrific abuse.

"All the officers working on this investigation – both in the UK and in Australia, America, Canada and elsewhere – shared a steely determination to safeguard children wherever they were and to bring those involved to justice,” says Gamble.

“Offenders are not limited by their geography and neither are we. We have worked side by side with the Australian Federal Police, the FBI, the RCMP and colleagues in a number of other countries to ensure that no stone is left unturned and no child is left unprotected."

Facebook apparently deactivated the online accounts of the initial suspects, however, Gaughan says there are indications that within hours the groups were reforming under new accounts.

"The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre is committed to working with its international policing partners. Project Ocean is a clear demonstration of how international co-operation can help ensure that child sexual offenders are brought to justice," says RCMP Superintendent John Bilinski, Officer in Charge of the Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

"One of our most effective strategies against Internet-facilitated child sexual abuse is cooperation. No single agency can deal with this crime in isolation. We continually work together with our partners to ensure the safety and security of children, regardless of where they live."