The National Police have arrested two people in the Canary Islands, specifically in Santa Cruz (Tenerife) and Arrecife (Lanzarote), for allegedly accessing child pornography via the dark web using cryptocurrencies as payment.
This operation was part of a broader crackdown spanning 38 countries, which led to 79 arrests worldwide.
In Tenerife, they detained a suspect who had amassed a large collection of child pornography across instant messaging apps and cloud storage services, linked to payments for illegal content.
Meanwhile, in Lanzarote, another suspect, originally from Madrid, was apprehended following the discovery of evidence connecting him to the dark web platform through cryptocurrency transactions.
Elsewhere in Spain, the operation resulted in 16 arrests in various provinces, including Alicante, Almería, Barcelona, and Madrid. These detainees were found with evidence of payments and, in some cases, additional criminal activities like drug trafficking. Some suspects had relocated, complicating the investigation, but were eventually tracked down by investigators.
To protect children from appearing on such illicit sites, parents and guardians are encouraged to maintain open communication with their children about internet safety. Setting boundaries on internet usage, using parental controls, and educating children about the risks of sharing personal information online are crucial steps. Regularly updating privacy settings and fostering a safe online environment can significantly reduce the risks associated with the internet.
This operation highlights the extensive and coordinated efforts needed to combat such serious crimes, as law enforcement continues to dismantle networks of offenders globally.
