TORONTO, November 18, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Toronto police revealed on Thursday the results of a three-year international child pornography sting that resulted in 348 arrests. Police also rescued 386 children from situations of reoccurring sexual abuse.
“There’s no greater responsibility for those of us who have sworn to serve and protect, than the protection of our children,” said Police Chief William Blair on Thursday in a press conference.
“Exploitation of children is a crime for which law enforcement comes together united, around the world, to do our very best to protect those individuals who can’t protect themselves.”
The investigation, codenamed “Project Spade,” traced the distribution of pornographic films of children to an online Toronto business called www.azovfilms.com. Police have charged business owner Brian Way, 42, of Toronto, with 24 offences, including numerous child-pornography and proceeds-of-crime offences and instructing a criminal organization.
Azov Films, shut down in 2011, sold to customers what it called “nudist/naturist films” that it claimed were not only legal but “suitable for viewing by all family members.”
“We do not sell nor condone the sale of child pornography,” stated the website, retrieved from an Internet archive database. “Our naturist/nudist films are of authentic naturism and are not obscene, lewd, sexually oriented, lascivious, or pornographic.”
During a raid on Way’s business premise, Toronto police seized 45 terabytes of data that they described as detailing “horrific sexual acts against very young children,” adding that the films were “some of the worst” they had ever viewed.
Way allegedly instructed child abusers around the globe to create the “naturist” videos of children, from toddlers to teens, which he then distributed to customers through his website.
Azov Films allegedly generated about $4 million in profits during its six years of business.
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Of the 348 individuals arrested for purchasing the offending material, 108 were Canadian, 50 residing in Ontario.
Of those 108, almost all were in positions of authority with access to children. There were 40 school teachers, 32 people who volunteered with children, 9 doctors and nurses, 9 religious leaders (including at least one Catholic priest), 6 law enforcement personnel, and 3 foster parents.
A number of those Canadians arrested were also charged with actual sexual abuse against a minor, including making child pornography. Police rescued 24 Canadian children from situations of sexual abuse.
“We’re just fortunate that we’ve saved this many children, but there’s many more out there that we need to find,” said Inspector Joanna Beaven-Desjardins during the press conference.
Outspoken pro-life-and-family Sun TV host Brian Lilley said that making, selling, and buying child pornography is the worst kind of child abuse.
“These are children who were sexually abused, used as sex slaves, their abuse documented, photographed, shot on video and then sold around the world,” he wrote on his blog.
“Don’t tell me that buying or looking at child pornography is a harmless crime not deserving of a harsh punishment, not unless you can say that while looking into the eyes of the children just rescued. Buying child pornography is a crime that supports the sick, twisted bastards who kidnapped, held or bought these children and then used them as sex slaves.”
Lilley said that the law should get more “tough” on people convicted of sexually abusing children through the pornography industry.
“If Way is convicted of actually making these horrific images, which means he was involved with sexually abusing children, who knows how many times, then the most he can get is 10 years.”
“Some people think we’re getting too tough on criminals.”
“I’m not in that camp, especially when it comes to raping children,” he said.