A major international operation targeting the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material has resulted in the arrests of 20 individuals across 12 countries, Interpol announced. The operation, led by Spain’s National Police in collaboration with Interpol and Europol, was conducted between March and May of this year.
The investigation began in late 2024 after Spanish officers identified online messaging groups dedicated to sharing exploitative material. Authorities then used Interpol and Europol networks to alert law enforcement in countries where suspects were believed to be operating.
In Spain, seven suspects were detained, including a healthcare worker accused of paying minors in Eastern Europe for explicit images and a teacher alleged to have possessed and distributed abuse material through online platforms. Police seized computers, mobile phones, tablets, and storage devices during searches.
Elsewhere, authorities in seven Latin American countries arrested 10 individuals, among them a teacher in Panama. Additional arrests were made in the U.S. and other European nations, with Bulgaria, Italy, and Portugal participating in the operation.
Interpol confirmed that 68 more suspects have been identified, with investigations continuing worldwide. Intelligence gathered during the operation has been shared with law enforcement in 28 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
The operation was bolstered by prior coordination at Interpol’s Latin America Victim Identification Task Force meeting in Chile, where Spanish investigators shared critical leads with regional specialists. Follow-up sessions, including an April 2025 conference on crimes against children, further aligned international efforts.
Interpol emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating child exploitation, noting that such operations rely on real-time intelligence sharing and joint investigative actions.