An overseas investigation leads to the sextortion arrest of Winnipeg teen: R25-56262

Released: January 12, 2026 at 2:05 p.m.

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On January 8, 2026, following an investigation by the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit, a teen was arrested in regards to child sexual abuse imagery that was uploaded to a social media platform involving a youth female who resided in Belgium.

The accused from Winnipeg, formed an online contact with a teenage female from Belgium. They were not previously known to each other, nor did they ever meet in person. During the online contact which lasted approximately one year, the female was coerced to send intimate images of herself to the accused. He posted the images online without her consent.

Between October 4, 2025, and November 30, 2025, the female was harassed and extorted by the accused who demanded money in order to stop posting the intimate images online. The female reported the sextortion to police in Belgium and was assisted in having the images removed.

In October, 2025, the Winnipeg Police Service’s ICE Unit received an online report from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) regarding a sextortion report that began in Belgium. Investigators identified a suspect address in Winnipeg.

A  search warrant was obtained for a residence in the Point Douglas neighbourhood of the city.

On January 8, 2026, the warrant was executed and a 15-year-old male was taken into police custody. With the assistance of the Winnipeg Police Service’s Electronic Storage Device (ESD) dog, digital storage devices were located and seized.

The male was charged with the following offences:

  • Extortion
  • Criminal Harassment
  • Makes, Prints, Publishes or Poss for the Purpose of Publication any Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material
  • Make, Print, Publish, Distribute, Circulate or have in Possession for this Purpose Obscene Materials
  • Access any Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material

He was released by way of Release Order with numerous conditions.

The Winnipeg Police Service is committed to providing support to survivors of sexual exploitation. Anyone wishing to speak to an investigator can call the ICE Unit at 204-986-6172 or report crimes involving sextortion, intimate images and luring at Cybertip.

Resources include WPS Victim Services at 204-986-6350 and the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631.

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