More than 20 arrested in Ont. child porn probe

According to U.S. data, about 30 per cent of those who view such imagery go on to commit sexual offences against children

The Ontario Provincial Police have announced the arrest of 22 people in what's being called the largest child pornography investigation in the province's history.

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino told a news conference today in Toronto about raids carried out Monday by 18 different police forces.

The probe began in January. Twenty-five search warrants were executed in 16 communities. A total of 73 criminal charges have been laid.

The news comes on the heels of a new study of child pornography activity in Canada's largest province.

A U.S. task force, working with Toronto police, has found that more than 4,000 computers in Toronto are involved in trading images of child sexual abuse, the Toronto Star reported Tuesday.

About 45,000 computers across the nation are involved in child porn trading, with about one-third of those in Ontario.

Canada ranks fourth in the word in online child pornography distribution activity. The top three are Bermuda, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

According to U.S. data, about 30 per cent of those who view such imagery go on to commit sexual offences against children, the Star said.