Feds arrest 11 cruise ship crew members in Boston during ‘Operation Tidal Wave’

BOSTON — Federal agents recently boarded two cruise ships in Boston, arresting 11 crew members for allegedly receiving and disbursing child sexual abuse material and child sexual exploitation material.

CBP officers arrested nine citizens of the Philippines, one citizen of Indonesia, and one citizen of Nicaragua on the Volendam and Norwegian Breakaway cruise ships during “Operation Tidal Wave” earlier this month, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Julio Caravia, the acting director of field operations for CBP’s Boston office, said suspects were taken into custody after a “comprehensive” search of their living quarters and electronic devices.

Caravia also noted that Homeland Security Investigations Boston, HSI Fort Lauderdale, and the CBP Fort Lauderdale Human Trafficking Unit assisted with the arrests.

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“Protecting children from exploitation is among our highest priorities, and this operation demonstrates the critical role CBP officers play in identifying and stopping individuals who pose a threat to public safety,” Caravia said in a statement. “Through strong coordination with HSI, NCMEC, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to use every available authority to disrupt the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material and prevent those involved from entering or remaining in the United States.”

Officials say Operation Tidal Wave aims to identify and initiate enforcement actions against cruise ship crewmembers who are associated with child sexual abuse material and child sexual exploitation material.

Before the Boston bust, authorities had arrested 27 crew members from six ships in San Diego and another 13 from three ships in San Juan.

Authorities have since processed the individuals, and they are scheduled to depart the United States.

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