Fed agents arrested 190 people in a month-long, nationwide crackdown on child pornography, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Friday.
Additionally, authorities said they rescued 18 victims.
Operation Orion was carried out through the month of May by agents from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents during a month-long.
The operation targeted individuals who possessed, received, transported, distributed, advertised or produced images or videos of child pornography.
“With the advent of summer vacation, children may have more time and access to the Internet, making this a good time to talk to them about online dangers. Many of the child exploitation cases under Operation Orion began with a child or teen chatting with someone he or she met online,” said ICE Director John Morton.
“Let this operation be a warning to anyone who would think they can use the Internet to exploit children: we are out there looking for you, we will find you, and you will be prosecuted.”
The majority of arrests were in the U.S., but there were some overseas in such countries as Spain, the Philippines, Argentina and the United Kingdom.
