Poland Seizes Over 1 Million Files in Crackdown on Child Sex Abuse

Raid Operations

Polish prosecutors and police said Thursday that they had seized more than a million photo and video files during more than a hundred raids in a country-wide crackdown against sex abuse of minors. The raids were carried out last month and targeted 112 locations, resulting in the identification of 75 suspects who allegedly possessed, produced, or disseminated child pornography.

Charges and Detention

All suspects have been charged, with 31 placed in pre-trial detention. The suspects, 65 men and 10 women aged 16 to 78, face up to 15 years in prison.

Seized Devices and Files

On more than 7,500 devices seized in the raids, including smartphones, laptops, and USB sticks, police found over 1.1 million files with child sex abuse content. The material included photographs of children downloaded from social media platforms that had been posted by their parents and relatives.

Investigation Ongoing

At this stage, “it would be difficult to say that these people acted as part of a network”, prosecutor’s office spokesman Przemyslaw Nowak told AFP. The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear if the suspects are connected or if they acted alone.

Conclusion

The Polish authorities’ efforts to combat child sex abuse are a positive step forward in the fight against this heinous crime. The sheer scale of the seizures and the number of suspects charged is a testament to the gravity of the issue and the need for continued action to protect children from exploitation.

FAQs

* How many devices were seized in the raids?
More than 7,500 devices, including smartphones, laptops, and USB sticks.
* How many files with child sex abuse content were found?
Over 1.1 million files.
* How many suspects were charged?
75
* How many suspects were placed in pre-trial detention?
31
* What is the maximum sentence faced by the suspects?
Up to 15 years in prison.