The seizures in these cases are part of operation ‘Safe Haven’. An operation in which the Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism (TBKK) team of the Rotterdam unit has accelerated nine cases. The team received help from digital investigators and the Sexual Offenses team.

Following reports from various cloud services and social media companies, the digital data carriers of the suspects were seized after investigation in their homes. The nine suspects come from Rotterdam (21, 35, 36, 37, and 62 years), Dordrecht (31 and 34 years), Barendrecht (27 years), and Capelle aan den IJssel (24 years). The investigation into the child pornography graphic material will continue under the direction of the Public Prosecution Service. Unknown victims are also being sought. Additionally, these images will be included in the national database.

“By downloading child pornography, you perpetuate the abuse of children”
Dennis Sneeuw, team leader of the Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism team: “These suspects maintained the demand for child pornography and thus the abuse of children. This is why we are fully committed to ensuring that downloading and possessing child pornography does not go unpunished. By effectively tackling such investigations, the police and the Public Prosecution Service want to continue sending the message that downloading and possessing child pornography will not go unpunished.”  

The Dutch police have 175 investigators who deal with combating child pornography and child sex tourism. Sixteen of them work in the Rotterdam unit. “We investigate the thousands of reports received by the police each year. It is intense work and the images do not leave you untouched. That drives a great professional motivation. By identifying victims and arresting suspects, we make a difference,” said Sneeuw.