An international law‑enforcement operation coordinated by INTERPOL, known as Operation Eclipse, resulted in the arrest of 60 individuals for child sexual offences and the identification and rescue of 65 victims across nine countries in Central America, North America and the Caribbean. The operation was conducted from February 2025 to January 2026 and targeted the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Strong emphasis was placed on identifying victims and reopening long‑standing or cold cases. Most victims were between 5 and 13 years old, with approximately 80% identified as girls. The disproportionate impact on girls is clear, but it was noted that operations and prevention must not assume the gender of child sex abuse victims.
Operation Eclipse was carried out with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Child Rescue Coalition (CRC). Participating countries[1] were instructed to review 57 existing INTERPOL Notices concerning individuals suspected of residing within their borders. As a result of this reassessment, 12 individuals have been located and arrested. Efforts continue to track down and extradite the remaining suspects.
[1] Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.
