Lori Culbert

Quebec man faces charges involving child pornography

A Quebec man returning to Canada after a year in South Africa was arrested at Vancouver airport when Canada Customs inspectors found 300 photographs of young girls in revealing poses and engaged in sex acts.

Yves Banville, 35, of Chertsey, Que., has been charged with possession of child pornography.

Richmond RCMP Sergeant Willy Laurie said some of the girls photographed are younger than 12 years old. Most of the pictures are of girls exposing themselves, while a few depict men performing sex acts with the girls.

It is not known if the man in possession of the photographs is in any of the pictures.

Laurie said the pictures did not appear to be purchased, and were likely taken with a home camera.

It is not known if the man carrying the pictures actually photographed them, Laurie added.

After spending the last year in South Africa, Banville was aboard a connecting flight from Japan that arrived in Vancouver at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Suspicious customs officers searched a suitcase and found the photographs.

Laurie said it would be hard to follow up the investigation with authorities in South Africa because it isn't clear where the victims live.

Police do not know if the photographs were intended to be sold illegally in Canada or kept for personal use.

Laurie was not shocked by the number of photographs.

He noted police seized a trunk full of pictures of children in various stages of undress from a Bridal Falls man, who was charged last year with possessing and distributing child pornography.

"Generally speaking, people who are into child porn go for quantity," Laurie said.