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PRESS RELEASE

65 victims identified, 60 arrests in year-long child sexual abuse operation in the Americas

Vienna, 6 March 2026

An international police operation has led to the arrest of 60 individuals for child sexual offences and the identification and rescue of 65 child victims, following a year-long effort by law enforcement in nine countries across Central America, North America and the Caribbean.

Operation Eclipse (February 2025 – January 2026) targeted the production and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, with a primary focus on identifying victims and reopening long-unsolved or “cold” cases.

The majority of victims were aged between 5 and 13 years old, with approximately 80 per cent identified as girls. This underscores the disproportionate impact on girls, while highlighting that prevention and response efforts must also be adapted for boys. The victims, who were minors at the time of the operation, were rescued, receiving protective and aftercare measures from national authorities.

The alleged perpetrators had differing levels of connection to their victims. They included family members, friends, neighbours, educators, online predators and foreign travellers, highlighting that there is no single profile of a sexual offender.

Operation Eclipse was coordinated by INTERPOL, with support from UNODC (under its joint strategy to prevent and combat technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse) and the Child Rescue Coalition (CRC). The operation united law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities across Latin America to synchronize investigations, execute targeted interventions and gather robust cross-border evidence. INTERPOL provided critical technical support, real-time intelligence sharing and strategic guidance throughout the operation. UNODC, meanwhile, provided training, mentoring and technical support to the investigation and prosecution units.

Key cases: Seeking justice to prevent future harm

In Panama, authorities identified a victim who had remained unrecognized on INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation database for more than a decade. The breakthrough was achieved through the INTERPOL Victim Identification Task Force for Latin American and the Caribbean, supported by UNODC, which brought together specialized officers from the region to analyse imagery and trace offenders. The identification allowed police to obtain critical evidence for judicial proceedings, led to the identification of two further victims and ensured the victim received protection and support.

In the Dominican Republic, two suspects were arrested for child sexual abuse crimes, including the production and possession of child sexual abuse material. The victims, aged 10–13, are receiving aftercare measures. One of those apprehended, a parent of the victims, was charged with facilitating and perpetrating the abuse. The other suspect was a transnational sex offender who lived with the victims. The arrest led to the seizure of more abuse material, revealing further victims.

Police in Costa Rica investigated a series of child abuse material on the International Child Sexual Exploitation database dating back more than 10 years. The specialized unit was able to confirm the identification of the victim who was a teenager at the time of the abuse. The offender had initially impersonated a celebrity online, then used grooming tactics, sextortion and threats against the victim’s family to maintain control over the victim.

In another significant development, a bilateral meeting between Panama and the Dominican Republic resulted in the identification of two suspects wanted by Panamanian authorities for sexual offenses. Both individuals were located in Dominican territory, prompting the initiation of extradition proceedings.

Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, said: “Pursuing older cases is not only about delivering justice and protecting victims; it is about preventing further harm. Operation Eclipse demonstrates that, through international collaboration and specialized expertise, even years-old abuse can be uncovered and those responsible brought to justice, helping to break the cycle of harm.”

As part of the operation, participating countries were also asked to reassess 57 existing Notices related to individuals believed to be living within their borders. This included Red Notices – for internationally wanted child sexual offenders – and Blue Notices seeking to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation. To date, 12 of those individuals have been located and apprehended, and efforts remain ongoing to trace and extradite the remaining suspects.

Participating countries:

Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic.