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Brazil's Federal Police Lead Nationwide Sweep Targeting Online Child Abuse, 55 Arrested and 3 Rescued

Part of a 2025 push, the operation unites federal with state forces, leveraging digital forensics for prosecutions.

Overview

  • Operation Proteção Integral III executed 182 search-and-seizure warrants and 11 preventive arrest orders across 16 states and the Federal District.
  • Roughly 900 officers—617 federal and 273 civil—carried out coordinated actions that seized phones, computers and storage media for forensic review.
  • Investigators identified suspects through online monitoring such as keyword tracking and detection of coded language on social platforms.
  • Local results included the arrest of a 42-year-old in Josenópolis accused of storing 754 abusive files and the detention of a children's party animator in Manaus.
  • President Lula praised the sweep as a “clean-up,” the justice minister highlighted interagency integration, and the PF urged parental oversight as further charges are expected after evidence analysis.