Espionage

Senior Canadian police intelligence officer arrested on suspicion of espionage

A senior official of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police intelligence unit has been arrested and charged with multiple charges, including espionage with foreign powers.

The RCMP member, identified as Cameron Ortis, was arrested Thursday in Ottawa, Canada, following an extensive national security investigation, Global News reported.

The charges filed under the Security of Information Act relate to unauthorized leaking of sensitive information and breach of trust, as well as unauthorized use of a computer.

“The charges stem from activities alleged to have occurred during his tenure as an RCMP employee,” the police said in a statement, confirming the arrest. “As this investigation is ongoing, we will not be making any other comment on this time.”

Sources told Global News that Ortis is believed to have stolen “large quantities of information, which could compromise an untold number of investigations.”