Two people from Sudbury were arrested as part of a large Ontario-wide investigation into online child sexual exploitation, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said Wednesday.
Province-wide sweep named Project Time
The OPP said the operation, called Project Time, involved a joint initiative with 25 other Ontario police services, including the Greater Sudbury Police Service. In total, investigators arrested 63 people across the province and laid 213 charges related to child sexual abuse material.
"A joint initiative with 25 other Ontario police services, including Greater Sudbury Police, led to a total of 213 charges being laid."
Police said Project Time encompassed a large investigative effort: 264 criminal investigations and an additional 154 ongoing investigations, leading to the identification of 51 victims. As part of the work, officers seized 814 electronic devices for forensic examination.
Local arrests and charges
The public news release listed a range of people arrested across the province, with ages spanning 15 to 79. The OPP said two of those arrested held positions of trust or authority in their communities and eight were repeat offenders. In Sudbury, police have charged at least one identified individual: Tristan Wabano, 25, was named by the OPP in relation to the investigation.
Authorities did not provide further local details in the release. Court processes and publication bans may limit what can be disclosed about some accused and alleged victims as matters proceed.
What police say and community impact
The OPP characterised Project Time as a co‑ordinated, multi‑agency effort aimed at identifying people who prey on children online, removing illicit material and advancing criminal prosecutions. The scale of devices seized and the number of investigations underlines the role of digital evidence in such cases and the resource intensity required for forensic work and victim identification.
- Arrests across Ontario: 63 people
- Charges laid: 213
- Investigations: 264 criminal, 154 ongoing
- Victims identified: 51
- Devices seized: 814
For Sudbury residents, the arrests highlight ongoing local and provincial efforts to disrupt online sexual exploitation. Greater Sudbury Police participated in the coordinated investigations alongside provincial partners; follow-up work will include forensic analysis and prosecutions that could take months to progress through the courts.
| Measure | Number |
|---|---|
| People arrested (provincial) | 63 |
| Charges laid | 213 |
| Criminal investigations | 264 |
| Ongoing investigations | 154 |
| Victims identified | 51 |
| Devices seized | 814 |
Anyone with information about online child exploitation is urged to contact local police. Further details about specific charges and court dates will become available as Crown counsel and the courts process cases and as publication bans permit.
This story will be updated as more information specific to Sudbury is made public by the Greater Sudbury Police Service or the OPP.
