Authorities from seven countries, supported by Europol, have carried out a major operation against child sexual exploitation, leading to the arrest of 28 individuals. As a result, three children have been safeguarded.

The operation, conducted from late May to mid-June 2026, took place in Canada, Czechia, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. It also led to the seizure of more than 460 items, including electronic devices, crypto wallets, drugs and large quantities of doping substances. The operation is ongoing and further arrests are expected.

Cryptocurrency to access the dark web

All suspects are men aged between 22 and 54. One of them was extensively using artificial intelligence in order to generate illegal material. Some of the victims were part of another suspect’s immediate family.

Investigators believe the suspects used cryptocurrency to pay for access to dark web forums, where they could download or view videos of children being abused. They will face charges for storing, acquiring, and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The investigation was led by Norwegian law enforcement, which in 2025 developed an innovative method to trace cryptocurrency transactions. This method helped investigators identify individuals paying for CSAM access in this operation. Two sellers of such material were also identified thanks to the tracing method.

Europol’s role in the operation

Europol provided crucial operational support and coordination throughout the investigation. Its experts cross-checked and enriched data with operational intelligence, producing key analytical products. Europol also assisted Norwegian authorities in distributing evidence packages to all participating countries and agencies.

The fight against child sexual exploitation remains a key priority for Europol. In addition to its support in preventing and detecting crimes related to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, Europol is currently running two major initiatives in this field.