A joint investigation by Kingston police and Ontario Provincial Police has led to three men being charged in a child exploitation investigation.
Police say the investigation, named Project Clovelly, looked to identify those luring children on social media. It took place over four days, from Sept. 20 to 23, 2021, with the final arrest being made Feb. 1.
Investigators used undercover techniques to join online chatrooms and social media apps aimed towards children in order to identify, locate and arrest those looking to sexually exploit children in Kingston.
“What typically happens are those investigations is those officers are specially trained to conduct these online investigations. They go online where the kids are. I won’t say how or what they present themselves to be, but where the kids go, the offenders go,” A/Det Inspector of Counter Exploitation & Missing Persons Section, Sharon Hanlon said.
Police say two of the men were arrested when they attended a pre-set location chosen by police where they thought they were to meet with a child for a sexual purpose.
The other was arrested using “a variety of techniques.”
Police say one of the men had rented a hotel room in which he planned to sexually assault a child.
The three men charged with various offences are Andrew David Lee Whan, 31, of Verona; Salah Hassanpour, 40, of Toronto; and Scott Davis, 35, of Perth.