The North Bay Police are among multiple police services across the province that teamed up with the Ontario Provincial Police to tackle child sexual exploitation across the province.
The investigation was part of a Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (the Provincial ICE Strategy).
Ontario Provincial Police say they have laid hundreds of charges in a series of investigations into child sexual abuse.
Police say the investigations were carried out over 10 days in February and led to the arrest of dozens of suspects accused of making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Investigators say 64 people have been charged with a total of 348 offences, and more than 600 devices have been seized.
The suspects range in age from 16 to 67.
Police allege one of the people charged was in possession of 21 terabytes of data containing child sexual abuse material.
See related: Dozens of suspects charged in sexual abuse investigations in Ontario
The North Bay Police say a court-imposed publication ban on the locally related case means the service can say very little about the investigation.
Scott McFarlane, Inspector with the North Bay Police Service, says it is an extremely complex problem.
"It affects everywhere that has internet access and the perpetrators don't need to be local," stated McFarlane.
"They can be international, they can be provincial, or they can be national, north American, or European. You don't know who you are talking to on the internet."
McFarlane says that suspects target vulnerable young people.
"They work in the anonymity of the dark web," he said.
"It is through the due diligence of our investigative teams that we could track down these individuals. Just in a short 10-day project, a number of people were charged. With the small number of investigators you look at the seriousness of the number of individuals charged across the province."
McFarlane says, as tough as it may be to do, parents need to check their children's phones.
"The key is to have open and honest communication with your children," he said.
"I am a parent myself but I am not the perfect parent. We have to know what our kids are involved in or if you notice them being withdrawn more than normal, or a new group of friends.
He says another way is to keep in touch with your children's friends.
"They are the ones that know what they are doing," he explained.
"They are concerned. It takes a community to raise a child. We have to look out for them to see what the warning signs will be."
He says families should not be afraid to contact police if they believe something is wrong.
"Please know that the police services around the province are doing their best but we need eyes and ears out there and if you suspect something is wrong, talk to your children," he said.
"If you suspect something is wrong with somebody else's child or they may be victimized, approach the parents, approach the police, approach the school and if you see something, say something."
With Files from the Canadian Press
