Interpol Operation Confluencia Leads to 95 Arrests in Global CSAM Messaging-Group Investigation
Law enforcement authorities from 17 countries across Latin America and Europe arrested 95 suspects in an Interpol-coordinated operation targeting the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through online messaging groups.
Called International Initiative Confluencia, the joint operation involved four law enforcement actions carried out between March and September 2026.
“The need for effective cross-border cooperation between law enforcement and the private sector has never been more urgent,” said Stephen Fry, Interpol’s Director of Investigation Assistance. “Behind every file is an abused child, revictimized every time that image is recirculated. No matter where the criminals move, we must act faster.”
Investigators executed 127 search warrants, arrested nearly 95 suspects, and rescued a 5-year-old victim whose parents were allegedly producing and selling abusive content online.
Investigations uncover large CSAM distribution networks
Authorities in Ecuador identified a member of a group sharing approximately 15GB of CSAM, including more than 4,000 files. In Panama, law enforcement arrested more than 700 users and administrators associated with a group distributing abusive material depicting children.
In Argentina, authorities charged another suspect with sextortion against minors. The suspect allegedly contacted more than 260 girls around the world, demanded increasingly explicit material, and threatened victims who refused to comply.
Interpol said messaging platforms are increasingly being used to groom children, coordinate abuse, connect criminals, and process payments for illegal content. These platforms also enable the recirculation of abusive material, causing the continued revictimization of children.
“It is hoped that the materials seized during the investigation will lead to further identification of offenders and children at risk, as well as additional security measures,” Interpol said.
Authorities continue targeting online child exploitation
Last February, 25 additional suspects linked to a large criminal organization distributing AI-generated CSAM were arrested as part of Operation Cumberland.
In April 2025, German cybercrime prosecutors also dismantled Kidflix, described as one of the largest CSAM platforms on the dark web. The investigation identified 1,393 suspects and led to a further 79 arrests.
In June 2025, European and Latin American authorities from more than a dozen countries arrested an additional 20 suspects in a separate joint operation targeting the creation and distribution of CSAM through instant messaging groups.
Most recently, a Europol-backed global law enforcement operation known as Operation Alice shut down more than 373,000 dark websites serving fake CSAM packages. The investigation began in mid-2021.
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Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com