U.S. Agents Remove 28 Cruise Ship Workers, Including Some Disney Employees, Over Child Sexual Exploitation Material

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended 28 people, including Disney cruise staffers, between April 23 and April 27 as authorities boarded eight cruise ships in an operation targeting child sexual exploitation material. A CBP spokesperson said 26 of the 28 subjects were from the Philippines, one was from Portugal and one was from Indonesia.

Officers confirmed that 27 of the 28 subjects were involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution or viewing of CSEM or child pornography. CBP cancelled the visas of all 28 subjects and they have been returned to their country of citizenship.

Homeland Security Investigations arrested 23 crewmembers from multiple cruise ships at the Port of San Diego on April 28 as part of Operation Tidal Wave.

The arrestees were transported to Los Angeles for processing. HSI officials said the arrests targeted individuals suspected of involvement with child sexual abuse material based on information received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A Disney cruise ship was docked in San Diego when staff were apprehended.

One of those taken into custody was the primary server for passenger Dharmi Mehta aboard the Disney Magic ship. Mehta captured footage that showed immigration enforcement apprehending several employees. "It wasn’t until they turned around that you could read the back where it says Customs and Border, but it still said, you know, police or officer," Mehta told 10 News.

Homeland Security Investigations officials issued a statement on May 7 confirming the arrests were part of Operation Tidal Wave. The ages and identities of the staffers taken into custody were not disclosed. A Disney Cruise Line spokesperson said the company has a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement.

"While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company," the spokesperson added. com reported that the operation first drew public attention when passengers witnessed what they initially believed to be an immigration sweep more than two weeks before authorities detailed its connection to child exploitation investigations.