A major international police operation coordinated by Interpol has led to the arrest of 95 suspects across 17 countries in Europe and Latin America as part of a crackdown on the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material through online platforms. Among the most disturbing cases was that of a five-year-old boy in Colombia whose father allegedly produced and sold footage of his abuse online.

According to Interpol, the operation, named “International Effort Confluencia“, involved four parallel police investigations conducted between March and September 2026. Officers executed a total of 127 search warrants, while approximately 89% of those arrested were men and 11% were women.

One of the most shocking cases involved a five-year-old child in Colombia who was rescued by police. One of the child’s parents was arrested on suspicion of producing and selling child sexual abuse material online.

Investigators in Colombia discovered that footage documenting the abuse of the same child dated back to when he was just one year old. By cross-referencing digital files, investigators were able to link separate cases and identify the parent, who was subsequently arrested on charges of producing and trafficking the illegal material.

Man accused of sexually blackmailing more than 260 girls

In Argentina, police arrested a man suspected of contacting more than 260 girls in different countries and demanding personal photographs and sexually explicit videos.

According to Interpol, the suspect allegedly pressured his victims into providing increasingly explicit material, threatening them when they refused to comply. The practice is known as sextortion, a form of online sexual blackmail.

In Panama, police arrested the administrator of an online group involved in distributing child sexual abuse material. The group had more than 700 members.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador, the examination of a suspect’s electronic devices uncovered more than 4,000 files containing images of child sexual abuse, amounting to approximately 15 GB of data.

Teenagers found among members of online abuse material groups

During the investigations, police in Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Spain discovered that some online groups also included teenagers who requested or distributed child sexual abuse material.

Investigators focused on the use of messaging applications and cryptocurrencies, which suspects allegedly used to communicate, exchange illegal material and carry out financial transactions.

Interpol warned that the repeated circulation of such files subjects children to ongoing victimisation, prolonging the harm caused by the original abuse.

Seventeen countries involved as further suspects and victims may be identified

The operation involved 17 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain and Uruguay.

According to Interpol, further analysis of the seized material is expected to lead to the identification of additional suspects, as well as children who may still be at risk.

Steven Fry, Interpol’s Executive Director of Investigative Support, said the evidence gathered highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in the commercial exploitation of child sexual abuse material. He also stressed the need for closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the private sector.