INTERPOL: 20 rescued, 144 arrested in major child abuse operation in South America

LYON, France – An international operation against child sex offenders has led to 144 arrests and enabled the protection of 20 victims in South America.

During Operation Orion International, twelve South American countries joined forces to combat the production, distribution and possession of online child sexual abuse and exploitation material, with a focus on identifying and rescuing victims.

As a result of the operation, carried out with the coordination and support of INTERPOL, 18 direct abusers were arrested and 111 people were charged with possession and distribution of abuse material. Seven people wanted internationally for child abuse, and who were the subject of INTERPOL red notices, were also arrested as part of the crackdown.

The arrested individuals, mainly men, were between 14 and 86 years old and came from diverse backgrounds. Their professions included: professor, graphic designer, security guard, mechanic, musician, journalist, psychologist and taxi driver.

Case studies: child victims protected after years of abuse

In Argentina, local authorities had identified abusive material circulating in messaging applications. With the support of INTERPOL and its additional data, authorities were able to identify and protect a nine-year-old victim who had been abused at least six years ago.

In a separate case in Chile, police identified a perpetrator who shared child sexual exploitation material in messaging groups. Following his arrest, investigators analyzed the seized information and determined that the same individual at the arrest location had also produced child pornography material. This made it possible to identify and secure a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of the perpetrator’s partner.

As part of Operation Orion International, participating countries were also asked to review existing Red Notices for child sex offenders suspected of living within their borders.

In one such case, Korean authorities provided information about the operator of a website sharing child exploitation material. Thanks to cooperation between Korea and Ecuador, with coordination from INTERPOL, the person was apprehended.

International cooperation throughout South America

The region-wide initiative, which ran from May to September 2024, was launched by INTERPOL following information from Chile’s Cybercrime Unit and the Buenos Aires Public Prosecutor’s Office on investigations into the transnational dissemination of child sexual abuse material through instant messaging applications.

INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children Unit analyzed and consolidated this information, together with existing data, and then shared this information with participating countries. The roadmap for cross-border cooperation was set out at a pre-operational meeting with prosecutors and investigators, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“This operation and the harrowing cases it has revealed are yet another reminder that child abusers come from all walks of life. Thanks to these international efforts, children who have experienced a lifetime of abuse are protected from further exploitation.

“INTERPOL will continue to work with all Member States in our ongoing and vital efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society.”

In addition to joint international action, the operation required cooperation at the national level, between multiple states. It resulted in arrests and identification of victims in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The hardware seizures and evidence collected during Operation Orion International have opened new avenues for investigation, and further results will follow.

Participating countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.