Swiss, French, and Canadian Break Pedophile Group

On December 14, 2002, the media reported that cooperation among law enforcement authorities succeeded in breaking a French-speaking pedophile ring of 40 suspected persons that spanned at least three countries. According to the media report the Berne police stated the men were French-speaking and organized themselves through the Internet in groups concentrating on sharing pornographic photos of children. In Lausanne police arrested a man for sending electronic photos of his own naked children. In September 2001 Swiss Internet users who had received unsolicited e-mail messages alert law enforcement authorities of the operation. The police in Bern and Lausanne arrested three men and earlier police in Lausanne arrested another person while Canadian police arrested two men. French authorities arrested one. Law enforcement authorities charged the suspects with abuse of children.