On June 10, 2026, the Aurora team of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal announced that it is actively monitoring social media and text‑message channels where teenagers are being recruited for criminal activities across the province of Quebec. The announcement highlighted the unit’s focus on intercepting digital communications that appear to act as contracts or invitations for youths to participate in illegal acts.
The Aurora unit scans a range of online platforms and text‑based messaging services, looking for patterns that suggest recruitment efforts. By analyzing the language and structure of messages, officers aim to identify contacts that are specifically targeting young Montrealers and other teens throughout Quebec. The detection process is designed to flag content that lures minors into criminal enterprises before any offense is carried out.
The operation targets teenagers in Montreal and other parts of the province, reflecting concerns that organized groups are exploiting digital messaging to expand their reach. Police officials say the unit’s work is intended to intervene early, disrupting the chain of recruitment and preventing potential crimes that could involve vulnerable youth.
This monitoring effort forms part of a broader SPVM strategy to combat cyber‑enabled recruitment and to safeguard young people from being drawn into illegal networks. Continuous scanning of social media and text channels allows the Aurora team to disrupt the flow of recruitment messages and to gather intelligence on the methods used by those attempting to enlist teens.
The Aurora unit plans to maintain its vigilance on digital platforms, adjusting its techniques as new recruitment tactics emerge. By staying ahead of evolving online threats, the team aims to protect teenagers from becoming participants in criminal activities throughout Quebec.