Four New Brunswick men have been arrested in a national online child sexual exploitation operation.
RCMP conducted searches last month at two locations in Fredericton, one in Moncton and one in Oromocto as a part of Project STEEL.
Twenty-six digital devices were seized during the searches in New Brunswick.
A 44-year-old, a 37-year-old man, and two 35-year-old men were released on strict conditions, with future court dates.
Project STEEL was a nationwide operation led by police in Ontario, Quebec, and the RCMP held between February 17 and 25.
To date, 106 individuals have been arrested as a part of the Canada-wide investigation, and 37 children have been safeguarded.
A total of 1,132 electronic devices were seized.
Charges so far include:
- Possession of child pornography
- Distribution of child pornography
- Accessing child pornography
- Making child pornography
- Luring a child under the age of 16
- Luring a child under the age of 18
- Invitation to sexual touching
- Sexual interference
- Publication, etc., of an intimate image without consent
Agreement or arrangement — sexual offence against child - Making sexually explicit material available to child
Other, which includes charges related to:
- Sexual assault
- Possession, etc., of counterfeit money
- Failure to comply with order (release)
- Failure to comply with probation order
- Indecent acts
- Criminal harassment
- Identity theft
- Administering a noxious thing
- Unauthorized possession of firearm
- Careless use of firearm, etc.
