U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Philippine National Police Partner to Rescue Underage Victims during
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents and the Philippine National Police (PNP)-HSI Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) arrested two Philippine nationals and rescued nine minor victims during an anti-cybersex operation in Taguig, Philippines on February 16, 2019. The successful operation was a result of close cooperation between Philippine and U.S. authorities.
HSI Manila, the PNP-HSI TCIU, and HSI Boston coordinated a real-time surveillance operation in the U.S. and Taguig, which led to the two arrests and the rescue of nine trafficked minor victims, ranging from 1 to 17 years of age. This operation was supported by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development and the International Justice Mission, a non-governmental organization.
The TCIU is comprised of 21 Philippine National Police (PNP) officers who trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Brunswick, Georgia. HSI TCIUs are a partnership between HSI and local law enforcement and enhance the host country’s ability to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activity.