Sixty people arrested over child pornography

Mexican officials said on Sunday local time that 60 people were arrested on child pornography charges in an operation that stretched across 10 Latin American countries, the US and Spain.

"Under the framework of action entitled "Operation Without Borders," 97 search warrants were executed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of 60 alleged perpetrators of this crime," said a statement from Mexico's National Commission of Security (CNS), which handles matters of public security in the country.

The multinational operation discovered around 320,000 photographs and 45,000 videos of child pornography. The material was broadcast on the Internet, and distributed via email and social networks. Computer and smartphones were also seized during the raids.

The CNS added that at least three girls were rescued, aged 9, 14 and 15.

According to the statement, the operation was aimed at "breaking various structures dedicated to the distribution of pornographic material of children via the Internet."

Interpol's Argentina division, Chilean police's cybercrimes investigation brigade, and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also contributed to the investigation.

In October, Spanish police arrested 81 people involved in a massive child pornography distribution network, marking one of the largest crackdowns on the illicit material in years.

ls/rc (AP, EFE, dpa)