20 arrested in international child pornography operation led by Spain
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Interpol says 20 people were arrested across 12 countries in a Spanish-led child pornography investigation, with 68 more suspects identified.
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In this photo taken on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, people walk on the Interpol logo at the international police agency headquarters in Lyon, central France (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
An international operation targeting child pornography, led by Spanish police and coordinated through the International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol, has resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals across 12 countries in the Americas and Europe, according to Interpol.
The probe was launched in late 2024 after Spanish authorities, during online patrols, discovered instant messaging groups being used to circulate child sexual exploitation material. Interpol announced the results of the operation on Friday.
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As the investigation progressed, Spanish officers were able to identify the alleged perpetrators and alert law enforcement agencies in the relevant countries, Interpol said in a statement.
It reported that "follow-up sessions between authorities" were held to coordinate efforts, particularly with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Paraguay.
The arrests were carried out between March and May 2025. Spanish authorities detained seven suspects within their jurisdiction, while others were arrested across Europe and the United States. A teacher was arrested in Panama.
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Among those arrested in Spain are a healthcare worker and a teacher. The healthcare worker is accused of paying minors in Eastern Europe in exchange for explicit images, while the teacher is alleged to have possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material through various online platforms.
As part of the operation, authorities seized desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and other digital storage devices.
Interpol stated that 68 additional suspects have been identified and that investigations are ongoing.
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