Police have busted an international child pornography ring involving a Saskatoon man.
The Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit arrested Philip Michael Chicoine, 27, and charged him with 19 counts, including making child pornography and luring a child. Police say he arranged access to video and also facilitated live-streamed, child pornography in the Philippines and Romania.
According to the RCMP, authorities in Romania have arrested a number of female suspects and confirm that the children there are now safe. The investigation in the Philippines is ongoing.
Police began investigating Chicoine in early February 2017, after child pornography was uploaded to a social media account he operated.
Chicoine appeared in Saskatchewan Provincial Court in Saskatoon at 9:30 am on Friday, March 10. He was remanded for a show-cause hearing on Monday March 13 at 2:00pm.
A previous version of this article identified Chicoine as 28, following RCMP sources. He is 27.
