13 suspects arrested following ALERT investigation into child luring
EDMONTON, AB — A total of 13 suspects have been arrested with child luring and similar offences following an investigation from the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team.
The arrests were announced on Wednesday following an eight-month investigation by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit. A total of 69 charges have been laid, with the suspects being arrested from February to October.
The arrests took place in Edmonton, St. Albert, Wainwright, Drayton Valley, Fort Saskatchewan and Barrie, Ontario. Three other suspects based in the United States were also identified, with the Internet Child Exploitation unit forwarding the information to American authorities.
None of the investigations are connected other than the similar nature of the offences, according to ALERT. The alleged crimes took place online with multiple communication tools and social media platforms being used.