Crime
The arrests were apart of “Operation Tidal Wave,” which aims to identify cruise ship workers who are in possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested 11 people with alleged child sexual abuse and exploitation materials on a cruise ship in Boston.
From Aug. 14 to 16, Border Protection and Homeland Security agents from Boston and Fort Lauderdale made the arrests on the cruise ships Volendam and Norwegian Breakaway, officials said.
The agents searched the living quarters and devices of each crew member, Customs and Border Protection said.
The search and arrests are a part of Custom and Border Protections and Homeland Security’s joint “Operation Tidal Wave,” which aims to identify cruise ship crew members who possess, use, procure, produce, and distribute, child sexual abuse and exploitation material. In April, 27 crew members were arrested from six ships in San Diego and in June and July, 14 were arrested from three ships in San Juan, officials said.
Nine are citizens of the Philippines, one of Indonesia, and one of Nicaragua. All 11 are scheduled to leave the United States, CBP said.
“Protecting children from exploitation is among our highest priorities, and this operation demonstrates the critical role [Customs and Border Protection] officers play in identifying and stopping individuals who pose a threat to public safety,” said Julio Caravia, the acting director of field operations for the Boston office of Customs and Border Protection.
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