Global crackdown on child pornography nets 20 arrests across 12 countries
The operation began in late 2024 when Spanish police, during online surveillance, uncovered messaging groups involved in sharing images of child sexual abuse.
An international child pornography investigation spearheaded by Spanish authorities has led to the arrest of 20 individuals across 12 countries in Europe and the Americas, according to Interpol.
The operation began in late 2024 when Spanish police, during online surveillance, uncovered messaging groups involved in sharing images of child sexual abuse.
As the probe expanded, investigators successfully identified the suspected offenders and notified law enforcement agencies in the respective countries, Interpol confirmed in a statement issued Friday evening.
Interpol reported that coordination meetings were held with authorities from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Paraguay to synchronize operational efforts.
The arrests occurred between March and May 2025.
In Spain, seven individuals were apprehended, including a healthcare professional and a teacher.
The healthcare worker is accused of paying minors from Eastern Europe for explicit images, while the teacher allegedly possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material across multiple online platforms.
Authorities have identified 68 more suspects, and investigations are continuing.
Authorities seized desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and various digital storage devices during the operation.
A teacher was also arrested in Panama.
Other suspects were detained in different locations across Europe and the United States.
