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U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Philippine National Police Partner to Rescue Underage Victims during
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February 28, 2019

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.