Winnipeg police involved in porn ring investigation

Winnipeg police are involved in a massive investigation into a international child pornography ring that has led to nine arrests across the country.

CTV's Kelly Dehn has learned Winnipeg police are looking into two people they are calling persons of interest. They have conducted two searches in the city at two separate locations.

Police have not made any arrests, and are not releasing any names.

Arrests across the country

In Ontario, four people have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Peel police tracked down a suspect who works in the community as a Big Brother to local children.

However, there are no accusations the suspect had any inappropriate relations with children.

He and three other suspects in Ontario have been charged with accessing and possessing child pornography. It was not immediately known if the other suspects worked with children as well.

According to a Europol news release issued in November, customers of the site had the option of interacting with the children that appeared on camera. They could buy them lingerie to wear or have them say the customer's name. A customer could also opt to be in the video.

Operation Koala

According to Europol, most of the material was produced in the Ukraine in a private studio. Others were produced in Belgium and the Netherlands

Europol officials were tipped off to the production ring after coming across a child abuse video in Australia. Their investigation led them to an Italian national whom authorities allege is the sole producer of the offensive material.

Police allege the 42-year-old man sold over 150 self-made videos of underage girls. One video showed a father abusing his two daughters, aged nine and 11.

The website reportedly had 2,500 customers from 19 countries.

So far, 23 child victims between the ages of nine and 16 have been identified.

"Among those arrested were several persons working in trusted positions, such as school teachers and swimming instructors," the Europol news release said.

"Thousands of computers, videos and photographs were seized," it continued to say. "In a large number of cases, more than a million files and pictures were found."