The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team‘s (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit seized hundreds of thousands of child sexual abuse images and videos following a provincewide investigation, which concluded with officials making seven arrests.
Read more: ALERT operation makes Lloydminster safer
Called Operation ICE Storm, the effort targeted high-level offenders sharing and distributing large collections of child sexual exploitation material through peer-to-peer networks.
Between June and August 2025, investigators made arrests in Calgary, Lethbridge and Red Deer, seizing more than 40 computers and electronic devices.
Forensic analysis uncovered more than 405,000 images and 11,000 videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including what police described as some of the most graphic content they have encountered.
“One of the devices seized held more than 300,000 images,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Auger of ALERT ICE. “Every day, thousands of files are being downloaded, viewed and shared in communities big and small across Alberta. Operations like this show the sheer amount of data our unit needs to comb through.”
Investigators do not believe any of the victims are from Alberta and there is no evidence of hands-on offences at this time.
The following individuals face charges in relation to possession, access and making available child pornography:
- David Swann, 37, Calgary
- Terry Beaudette, 55, Calgary
- Rowan Bachand, 42, Lethbridge
- Anthony Klassen, 40, Calgary
- Jason Leone, 51, Red Deer
- Jeremy Martinuk, 42, Calgary
- Cheuk Fai Liu, 26, Calgary
The Calgary Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service and Red Deer RCMP supported Operation ICE Storm.
ALERT is funded by the Alberta government and brings together specialized police resources from across the province to combat serious and organized crime.
Officials urge anyone with information about child exploitation to contact local police or submit a tip at cybertip.ca.
Read more: ALERT seizes guns, charges Lloyd teen
So how did that make Lloyd safer? Why not name those individuals from lloyd