ANTIGONISH: In a coordinated effort to combat online child sexual exploitation, the Nova Scotia RCMP has executed multiple search warrants as part of Project STEEL, a national initiative targeting offenders involved in child pornography.
Among the key enforcement actions, police carried out search warrants in Boylston and Eskasoni on Feb. 19 and 20, leading to arrests and the seizure of digital evidence.
On Feb. 19, members of the RCMP’s Provincial Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit, with assistance from specialized teams including Digital Forensic Services (DFS), the Interview Assistance Team (IAT), and the Cybercrime Unit, executed a search warrant at a residence on Highway 16 in Boylston.
Investigators arrested James Thornley, 24, after locating child pornography on a seized cell phone. Thornley has been charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Transmission of Child Pornography and was released on conditions.
Thornley’s first court appearance is scheduled for April 30 at Antigonish Provincial Court.
The following day, Feb. 20, a second search warrant was carried out at a home on Ginger Root Lane with the support of Eskasoni RCMP and other specialized units.
Officers found a substantial amount of child pornography saved and organized on seized devices. One individual was arrested and will face charges related to possession and transmission of child pornography.
A second person at the residence was detained but later released without charges and is not believed to be connected to the offences. The accused in this case has been released pending a future court appearance.
Project STEEL, a nationwide initiative led by the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) in collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Sûreté du Québec (SQ), focused on identifying and apprehending individuals engaged in the online exploitation of children.
Over a twelve-day period, multiple law enforcement agencies across Canada worked together to safeguard children and disrupt the digital distribution of child abuse material. In addition to the Guysborough and Eskasoni warrant executions, further search warrant executions occurred in Kentville on Feb. 18 and in Yarmouth on Feb. 26.
“Project STEEL has been a great success nationally, as well as here in Nova Scotia,” Cpl. Oliver Roberts of the Provincial ICE Unit said. “The coordinated execution of search warrants from Cape Breton to Yarmouth has highlighted the important work being done here and collaboratively across all jurisdictions. All police forces in this province are working hard every day to create and promote safe spaces for everyone, especially children.”
The RCMP stresses that investigations are ongoing, with further analysis of seized computers, phones, and digital storage devices expected to yield additional evidence.
Authorities remind the public that reporting suspected child pornography is mandatory in Nova Scotia. Failure to report could result in penalties similar to those for failure to report child abuse under the Child and Family Services Act.
Anyone who encounters such material is urged to contact their local police or Canada’s national tip line at www.cybertip.ca.