EDMONTON -- A 45-year-old teacher from St. Albert has been charged after child pornography was seized at the Edmonton International Airport.

Just before 11 p.m. on Aug. 26, Canada Border Services Agency officers searched a man's suitcase and seized "a large collection of CDs and DVDs" of child pornography tucked inside a pouch.

The man, who had flown from Thailand via San Francisco, reportedly purchased the materials in Thailand, said RCMP Sgt. Pat Waldorf, head of the Northern Alberta Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit.

Waldorf said the man worked as a teacher, but has been on sick leave.

He added the man had made no attempt to conceal the materials as the discs were labelled with pornographic images.

"We get about four to six cases like this each year," he said.

Canada Border Services spokesman Lisa White said agency officers are always on the lookout for illegal materials, including "child pornography, obscene materials and hate propaganda."

Kerry Glen Avey has been charged with one count of possession and one count of importation of child pornography. He was released from police custody and is expected to appear in court on Oct. 7.

CLARA.HO@SUNMEDIA.CA