A coordinated international operation supported by Europol has resulted in the arrest of 28 people as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation, with authorities also safeguarding three children.
The operation was carried out between late May and mid-June 2026 by law enforcement authorities in Canada, Czechia, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland. According to Europol, the investigation remains ongoing and further arrests are expected.
Cryptocurrency tracing aided investigation
Europol said officers seized more than 460 items during the operation, including electronic devices, cryptocurrency wallets, drugs and large quantities of doping substances.
The agency said all of the suspects are men aged between 22 and 54. Investigators alleged that one suspect had extensively used artificial intelligence to generate illegal material, while some of the victims were members of another suspect’s immediate family.
According to Europol, investigators believe the suspects used cryptocurrency to pay for access to dark web forums where child sexual abuse material (CSAM) could be viewed or downloaded. The suspects are expected to face charges related to the storage, acquisition and sharing of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation was led by Norwegian law enforcement, which Europol said developed a method in 2025 to trace cryptocurrency transactions. The agency said this enabled investigators to identify individuals who had allegedly paid for access to child sexual abuse material and also helped identify two suspected sellers of such material.
Europol said it supported the investigation by coordinating participating authorities, analysing and enriching operational intelligence, producing analytical products and assisting Norwegian investigators in distributing evidence packages to the countries involved.
The agency said tackling the sexual exploitation of children remains one of its priorities. It highlighted its Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object initiative, which asks members of the public to help identify objects linked to unresolved cases, and Help4U, a digital platform launched in November 2025 to provide information and support for children and teenagers affected by sexual abuse or online exploitation.
The participating countries were Canada, Czechia, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.
