In Peru, it has been reported that two men worked together to create and distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) of boys between 8-10 years old.
One of the suspects operated an internet center on the first floor of his home. With video games available to be played, this gave him access to minors in the economically poor district of Comas. Knowing the financial vulnerabilities, he allegedly paid numerous boys so that he could abuse them in a bedroom at his house while creating CSAM of his actions.
After producing the CSAM, the suspect would send it to another individual, an inmate at Huaral Penitentiary in Lima, Peru. This second suspect then sold the CSAM to other criminals at the penitentiary, turning a profit and further exploiting the minors.
The Peruvian National Police (PNP) first became aware of the potential crimes when they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in early April of 2024. Subsequently, the PNP reached out to OUR Rescue for in-country assistance.
On April 9, 2024, the investigation took its next step.
The OUR Operations team, working in conjunction with the Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the Peruvian Prosecutors Office, participated in search and arrest warrants that were carried out by authorities at two locations: the home / internet center and the penitentiary. At the home, the suspect was arrested, and multiple electronic devices were seized. Authorities are now analyzing these devices and information in order to identify survivors that reside in the vicinity of the internet business.
While the minors included in the CSAM have not been identified yet, we are hopeful they will be soon. Once this happens, Survivor Care from OUR Rescue will be offered to all of them.
In this ongoing case, OUR support will continue financially and in an advisory capacity. The goal is to bring justice to the survivors and hold the believed-to-be predators accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
OUR Rescue is also looking to further enhance the PNP’s technical and investigative skill set, which will empower their overall anti-human trafficking efforts.