8 men arrested in the Maritimes in connection with national child sexual exploitation operation

Police say they seized 26 digital devices in New Brunswick as part of Project Steel. (RCMP)

Eight men from the Maritimes have been arrested in connection with a national online child sexual exploitation operation.

The RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit made the arrests as part of the operation, which is known as Project Steel.

Police executed search warrants in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia last month.

The following Eight men from the Maritimes have been arrested in connection with a national online child sexual exploitation operation.:

• a 44-year-old man from Moncton
• a 37-year-old man from Fredericton
• a 35-year-old man from Fredericton
• a 35-year-old man from Oromocto

Police say they also seized 26 digital devices to further their investigations.

The four men were later released on strict conditions and will appear in court at later dates.

In Nova Scotia, officers executed four search warrants as part of Project Steel.

• On Feb. 18, Kentville Police Service searched a home on Forest Hill Road and seized a variety of electronic devices. Police say they found child pornography on a cellphone. One person was arrested and will face charges related to possession and transmission of child pornography. He was released pending a future court appearance.
• On Feb.19, police executed a search warrant at a home on Highway 16 in Boylston. Police say they arrested one man and found child pornography on a cellphone that was seized at the scene. James Thornley, 24, of Boylston, has been charged with one count each of: possession of child pornography and transmit child pornography. He was released on conditions pending a court appearance in Antigonish provincial court on April 30.
• On Feb. 20, police found a “substantial amount” of child pornography saved and organized on devices at a home on Ginger Root Lane in Eskasoni. One person will face charges associated to possession and transmission of child pornography. He was released pending an upcoming court appearance.
• On Feb. 26, police executed a search warrant at a business on Highway 3 in Ste. Anne du Ruisseau and arrested one man. Police say they found multiple computers and media storage devices containing child pornography and two unsecured firearms, which were also seized. Stephen Doucette, 51, of Lower Argyle is facing charges of: possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography, careless storage of firearm, and unauthorized possession of a firearm. He was released pending an appearance in Yarmouth provincial court on April 28.

Nova Scotia police say their investigations are ongoing, including further analysis of computers, phones, and other seized devices.

The RCMP says Project Steel was a coordinated effort between its National Child Exploitation Crime Centre, Ontario Provincial Police and the Sûreté du Québec, in addition to local police forces and agencies.

Police say, as of Wednesday, 106 people have been arrested in connection with Project Steel and 37 children have been safeguarded. More than 1,000 electronic devices have also been seized.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.