Vancouver Island man charged with child luring, making sexual abuse material

LANGFORD, B.C. – Police in British Columbia say a man from Vancouver Island has been arrested and charged with child exploitation offences following a tip from American authorities.

RCMP say in a statement that the B.C. Integrated Child Exploitation Unit received information from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations last September about a suspect who was allegedly exploiting children using a social media application.

The Mounties say they identified a suspect in Langford, B.C., just outside Victoria, who allegedly lured three girls and exploited them by creating child sexual abuse materials that he posted online.

They say officers executed a search warrant in January at a home in Langford, where they arrested a 31-year-old man from the area.

RCMP say the BC Prosecution Service has now approved seven charges, including two counts of child luring and one count each of possessing, accessing and making or publishing child pornography.

They say the man has been released on a number of conditions, including those governing his access to the internet and children under the age of 16.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2024.