Durham police arrest 12 men in child sexual exploitation sting

Durham Regional Police say 12 men were arrested following Project Firebird, a proactive enforcement initiative that ran over 10 days in October 2026. Investigators placed an online advertisement targeting people seeking to purchase sexual services from someone represented to be 15 years old, and the ad received more than 8,000 views, police say.

Police say the investigation led to 12 arrests, 36 Criminal Code charges and one charge under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Those charged range in age from 22 to 64 and are from Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington, as well as Markham, Scarborough, Simcoe and Brampton. The charges include luring a person for the purpose of obtaining sexual services under 18, obtaining sexual services under 18, and invitation to sexual touching under 16, police say. The men are charged, not convicted, and the allegations have not been tested in court.

Police say the initiative shows the ongoing demand for the sexual exploitation of children online, and they remain committed to protecting vulnerable youth and disrupting human trafficking and child exploitation networks. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DRPS Human Trafficking Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5600. Support for people affected by human trafficking is available through www.stopht.com and Victim Services of Durham Region, police say.