Authorities arrested 11 cruise crew members in Boston for their alleged part in the reception and disbursement of child sexual abuse material and child sexual exploitation material.
According to a news release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP officers at the Port of Boston, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations Boston, HSI Fort Lauderdale, and the CBP Fort Lauderdale Human Trafficking Unit, boarded two cruise ships and made the arrests as part of "Operation Tidal Wave."
The operation was conducted August 14-16 and saw officers and agents board Holland America Line's MS Volendam and Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway. All 11 crew members are foreign nationals, including nine citizens of the Philippines, one citizen of Indonesia, and one citizen of Nicaragua.
The individuals are scheduled to depart the U.S. after being processed for removal under Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for crimes involving moral turpitude. The arrests were made following a comprehensive search of the subjects' living quarters and electronic devices, and consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, CBP said.
"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," Acting Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Boston Field Office Julio Caravia said in a statement accompanying Thursday's release.
"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."
Norwegian confirmed that it's "cooperating with the appropriate authorities."
"We are aware of the situation and take this matter very seriously. We are cooperating with the appropriate authorities," a spokesperson for the cruise giant said in a statement to TravelPulse.
"The safety, security, and well-being of our guests are of paramount importance, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment across our fleet," NCL added.
In a similar statement to TravelPulse, Holland America Line called the arrests "deeply disturbing" and confirmed its full cooperation with law enforcement.
"These allegations are deeply disturbing, and we have zero tolerance for criminal behavior. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and immediately terminated the individuals involved," the cruise line said.
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