Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
March 5, 2026 Peace and security
An international operation resulted in the arrest of 60 individuals charged with child sex crimes, and the identification of 65 underage victims, who were released and provided with assistance. The operation, conducted under the auspices of Interpol and with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was the culmination of months of efforts by law enforcement agencies in nine countries across Central and North America and the Caribbean.
Operation Eclipse, which concluded in January 2026, targeted the production and distribution of child sexual exploitation and abuse materials. Particular attention was paid to identifying victims and reopening old, dead-end investigations.
Key cases
In Panama, authorities have identified a victim who remained unidentified in INTERPOL's Child Sexual Exploitation Database for over a decade. This breakthrough was made possible by the work of the Latin American and Caribbean Victim Identification Task Force, supported by the UNODC. This allowed police to gather crucial evidence for the trial, identify two additional victims, and provide protection and assistance services to the victim.
In the Dominican Republic, two suspects have been arrested in connection with a child sexual abuse case, including the production and possession of related materials. The victims, aged 10 to 13, are receiving necessary support. One parent of one victim is accused of aiding and abetting the crimes. The second suspect is a transnational criminal who lived with the victims. During the arrest, additional materials were discovered indicating further abuse.
In Costa Rica, police investigated a series of Interpol files dating back more than ten years. A specialized unit was able to confirm the identity of the victim, who was a teenager at the time of the crime. The perpetrator initially posed as a celebrity online, then used psychological pressure, sexual blackmail, and threats against the victim's family.
In a separate development, a bilateral meeting between Panama and the Dominican Republic led to the identification of two suspects wanted by Panamanian authorities on charges of sexual crimes. Both were located in the Dominican Republic, and extradition proceedings have been initiated.
Affected children
Most of the identified victims were between the ages of five and 13, with approximately 80 percent being girls. These data indicate a disproportionately high rate of violence against girls, although prevention and response measures must also take into account the needs of boys, UNODC emphasizes. All victims were minors at the time of the crimes; after their rescue, they received protection and assistance from national authorities.
The alleged perpetrators had various connections to their victims, including family members, acquaintances, neighbors, teachers, online criminals, and foreign tourists. According to the UNODC, this suggests that there is no single profile of the perpetrator of such crimes.
Bringing the guilty to justice
During the operation, law enforcement and judicial authorities from Latin American countries coordinated investigations, conducted targeted operations, and collected evidence through international cooperation. Interpol provided technical support, real-time intelligence sharing, and strategic guidance. The UN Office, in turn, provided training and technical assistance to investigative and prosecutorial units.
Interpol's Acting Director of Police Services, Cyril Goute, stressed the importance of resolving old cases.
"Investigating long-standing cases is not only a matter of justice and protecting victims, but also of preventing new crimes. Operation Eclipse demonstrates that, thanks to international cooperation and specialized expertise, even years later, crimes can be solved and those responsible brought to justice," he noted.
As part of the operation, participating countries also reviewed 57 INTERPOL notices concerning individuals believed to be within their territories. These included "Red Notices" for internationally wanted criminals and "Blue Notices" aimed at gathering additional information about the identity, location, or activities of suspects. To date, 12 such individuals have been detained. Efforts to locate and extradite the remaining suspects are ongoing.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.