Three Kelowna men suspected of child pornography and luring children

KELOWNA, BC — RCMP are investigating three Kelowna men allegedly involved in separate child exploitation offences.

The B.C. Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) unit, which is based in Surrey, specializes in investigating internet facilitated offences against children.

Officers came to the Central Okanagan  on June 24th with search warrants after undercover investigators identified the suspects.

The men are accused of offences ranging from manufacturing child pornography to the luring of a child.

Two of the men were arrested but now have been released with conditions, including restricting their future contact with children and access to internet.

The third man is under investigation and a number of his electronic devices are seized.

Investigators may recommend more charges after they finish looking through the devices.

The children in some of these Kelowna investigations have been identified as “at risk.”

One of the suspects was living with children at the time the alleged offences took place.

But BC ICE says officers do not have evidence that suggests any local children were directly victimized.

The unit uses online undercover officers to identify and arrest those who target children on the internet for sexual purpose.

“We continue to use various tools in our disposal to track down these online predators. We aim to hunt those who prey on children by using every police technique available,” adds Sergeant Van Laer.

The BC ICE unit also relies on tips from the public and encourages anyone who has information about children exploitation online to contact local police or report it at http://www.cybertip.ca.