08/24/2026
11 Cruise Ship Crew Members Arrested in Boston on Child Exploitation Allegations 🚨
Federal agents arrested 11 foreign crew members from two cruise ships docked in Boston last week on allegations involving child sexual abuse and exploitation material, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
Officers from CBP’s Boston Field Office, working with Homeland Security Investigations agents from Boston and Fort Lauderdale, boarded Holland America Line’s Volendam and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway between Aug. 14 and 16 as part of Operation Tidal Wave.
The multiagency effort targets cruise ship crew members linked to the possession, receipt, production or distribution of such material.
Nine of those arrested are citizens of the Philippines, one is from Indonesia and one is from Nicaragua, according to a CBP news release issued Thursday. Authorities did not release their names or shipboard positions.
After searching the crew members’ living quarters and electronic devices and consulting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, officials processed all 11 for removal from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act for crimes involving moral turpitude. The individuals are scheduled to leave the country, CBP said.
“Protecting children from exploitation is among our highest priorities, and this operation demonstrates the critical role CBP officers play in identifying and stopping individuals who pose a threat to public safety,” said Julio Caravia, acting director of field operations for CBP’s Boston Field Office.
HSI New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming said the agencies remain focused on the issue. “Anyone who possesses or transports child sexual abuse material is not welcome in the United States and will face serious consequences,” he said.
Holland America Line said it immediately terminated the crew members involved. “These allegations are deeply disturbing, and we have zero tolerance for criminal behavior,” a company spokesperson said, adding that the line is cooperating with law enforcement.
Norwegian Cruise Line said it was aware of the situation and cooperating with authorities. “The safety, security, and well-being of our guests are of paramount importance, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment across our fleet,” the company said in a statement.
There was no indication the arrests delayed either ship’s schedule.
Operation Tidal Wave is an ongoing initiative led by CBP in coordination with HSI agents assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Earlier phases this year produced similar results: 27 crew members from six ships were removed in San Diego in April, and 14 crew members from three ships faced administrative action in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June and July, with one additional case accepted for federal prosecution.
