Two Kingston men arrested in interprovincial child sexual exploitation sting

Multiple Canadian police agencies are to thank for the arrest of over 40 people in Ontario and Quebec – with more arrests expected in other provinces – in the “fight against online child sexual exploitation.”

In a press release on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shared that 29 arrests linked to child sexual exploitation materials had been made in Quebec between Monday, Nov. 27 and Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

“Backed by the Sûreté du Québec’s (SDQ) integrated child pornography enforcement team (Équipe intégrée de lutte contre la pornographie juvénile – EILPJ), this major operation was led by officers from the online child sexual exploitation investigation team (Équipe d’enquête sur l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants sur internet -ESEI) and the major crime investigations service (Service des enquêtes sur les crimes majeurs – SECM) of the SDQ with assistance from the police services of Montreal, Longueil, Laval, Québec and Gatineau,” the OPP said at 8:20 a.m. on December 1.

“Concurrent operations tied to [child sexual exploitation materials] were also conducted in New Brunswick and Ontario, the latter involving the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) through its Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial ICE Strategy) as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).”

Later in the day December 1, the OPP released further information, disclosing that 18 individuals had been arrested in the Ontario operations targeting child sexual exploitation materials. Of those arrested, two are from Kingston, according to information provided by police.

The OPP relayed that 38-year-old Matthew Ryce of Kingston has been charged with two counts of possession of child pornography, as well as making child pornography available, and distributing child pornography.

Additionally, an unnamed 43-year-old male from Kingston was charged with possession of child pornography, making child pornography available, and distributing child pornography.

The remaining 16 people arrested and charged in Ontario are from Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa, London, Kitchener, Georgina, Sudbury, Belleville, Barrie, Clarence-Rockland, Essex, Burlington, and Guelph.