Police arrest 60 over child sex abuse in Latin America: Interpol

The operation conducted across nine countries between February 2025 and January 2026, also made it possible to identify and rescue 65 victims, all minors, it said.

Those arrested included a mother who abused her own children and an individual who impersonated a celebrity online.

Interpol said some of the victims had appeared in databases listing child sexual abuse material or instances of sexual exploitation for more than 10 years, without ever having been identified until now.

Most were between five and 13 years old at the time, and around 80 percent are girls, the organisation added.

"The alleged perpetrators had differing levels of connection to their victims," it said, including "family members, friends, neighbours, educators, online predators and foreign travellers".

In the Dominican Republic, two children aged 10 and 13 were allegedly abused by their mother and a "transnational sex offender" who was living with them, and both suspects were arrested.

A suspect in Costa Rica had impersonated a celebrity online before using "grooming tactics, sextortion and threats" to control their victim.

Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama were involved in the operation.

The participating countries were still searching for 45 child sexual abuse suspects believed to be living within their borders, Interpol added.