An international law enforcement operation targeting child sexual exploitation has resulted in the arrest of 60 suspects and the rescue of 65 child victims across nine countries in Central America, North America and the Caribbean.
The year-long initiative, known as Operation Eclipse, ran from February 2025 to January 2026 and focused on dismantling networks involved in the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Authorities also prioritised identifying victims and reopening long-standing unsolved cases.
Victims identified and rescued
According to officials, the majority of the rescued victims were between five and 13 years old, with nearly 80 per cent identified as girls.
Authorities noted that offenders had different types of relationships with the victims. Suspects included family members, acquaintances, neighbours, teachers, online predators and foreign travellers.
Children who were still minors during the operation were placed under protection and provided with support and aftercare services by national authorities.
The operation was coordinated by INTERPOL, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Child Rescue Coalition.
Breakthroughs in long-standing cases
The coordinated investigation led to breakthroughs in several long-unsolved cases.
In Panama, investigators resolved a decade-old case involving a victim who had remained unidentified in INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation database. The identification helped authorities collect crucial evidence for judicial proceedings and also led to the discovery of another victim.
In the Dominican Republic, police arrested two suspects in connection with child abuse crimes involving victims aged 10 and 13. One of the suspects was the victims’ mother, accused of facilitating the abuse, while the second suspect was identified as a transnational offender living with the victims.
Authorities seized digital evidence during the arrests, revealing the possibility of additional victims.
In Costa Rica, investigators identified a victim linked to abuse material that had been circulating for more than a decade. The suspect had allegedly impersonated a celebrity online and used grooming tactics and threats to control the victim.
International cooperation strengthens investigations
The operation highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling online exploitation.
During the investigation, law enforcement agencies reassessed 57 international notices issued for suspected offenders believed to be living in participating countries.
So far, 12 individuals have been located and arrested, while investigations and extradition processes remain ongoing.
INTERPOL officials emphasised that reopening old cases is essential to preventing further harm.
“Pursuing older cases is not only about delivering justice and protecting victims but also about preventing future abuse,” said Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services.
Authorities say Operation Eclipse demonstrates how international collaboration and specialised investigative techniques can help identify victims, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.