Winnipeg Police say alleged case involved Belgian victim and non-consensual sharing of intimate images

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Police Service say a teen from Winnipeg has been arrested following an Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit investigation linked to a sextortion complaint originating in Belgium.

Content note: The following report contains information related to exploitation and harassment that may be distressing for some readers. Please consider your well-being before continuing.

Police say the accused formed an online connection with a teenage girl in Belgium. According to investigators, the two were not previously known to each other and never met in person. Police allege that over roughly one year of online contact, the girl was coerced into sending intimate images, which were later posted online without her consent.

Winnipeg Police allege that between Oct. 4, 2025, and Nov. 30, 2025, the victim was harassed and extorted, with demands for money in exchange for stopping the posting of the images.

Police say the victim reported the matter to Belgian police and was assisted in having the images removed.

Tip received through Canadian Centre for Child Protection

Police say that in October 2025, Winnipeg Police ICE investigators received an online report from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) connected to the Belgium-based sextortion report. Investigators identified a suspect address in Winnipeg, police said.

A search warrant was obtained for a residence in the Point Douglas neighbourhood. Police say the warrant was executed on Jan. 8, 2026, and a 15-year-old male was taken into custody. With assistance from the Winnipeg Police Service Electronic Storage Device (ESD) dog, investigators located and seized digital storage devices, police said.

Charges

Police say the teen is charged with:

• Extortion

• Criminal harassment

• Making/printing/publishing or possessing for the purpose of publication child sexual abuse and exploitation material

• Making/printing/publishing/distributing/circulating or possessing for that purpose obscene materials

• Accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material

Police say the accused was released on a Release Order with “numerous conditions.”

All allegations have not been proven in court.

Support and reporting

Winnipeg Police say anyone wishing to speak to investigators can contact the ICE Unit at 204-986-6172. Reports involving sextortion, intimate images, or luring can also be made through Cybertip.

Police also referenced supports including WPS Victim Services (204-986-6350) and the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line (204-786-8631).

What Parents Can Do: Monitoring Kids’ Online Activity and Reducing Sextortion Risk

Start with conversations, not surveillance

• Keep talks calm and non-judgmental: kids are more likely to report concerns if they won’t get blamed or punished.

• Explain that sextortion often starts with friendly messages, then escalates into pressure, threats, or money demands.

Tighten privacy and messaging settings

• Set social accounts to private and limit who can message or add them.

• Review friend/follower lists together and remove unknown contacts.

• Disable public DMs where possible; restrict contact to approved friends.

Use device tools that already exist

• Turn on screen-time controls and content restrictions (phones, tablets, consoles).

• Require strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on key accounts.

• Keep device software updated.

Watch for warning signs

• Sudden secrecy around devices, hiding screens, deleting chats

• Anxiety after being online, sleep changes, withdrawal

• Requests for money, gift cards, or unusual payment apps

If a child is being sextorted

• Don’t pay and don’t negotiate (it often increases demands).

• Save evidence (screenshots, usernames, payment requests) without sharing images further.

• Block and report the account on the platform.

• Report to police and to Cybertip.

• Reassure your child they did the right thing by telling you—support matters.