Brazilian authorities receive specialized training to combat child pornography

BRASILIA, Brazil — Thirty Brazilian Federal Police officers representing 23 different states throughout Brazil completed a four-day training Thursday on the use of new technology to help combat child pornography. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Brasilia Attaché Office, the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Child Rescue Coalition, a non-governmental organization based in the United States, offered the training.

The officers received training on the Child Protection System, a software program used by law enforcement around the globe to assist with the identification of individuals trading child pornography online. Three state and local police officers from Mississippi and North Carolina, who are experts with the software program, traveled to Brazil to provide the training that was held at the Brazilian Federal Police Academy.

HSI's Operation Predator is an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

Through its International Operations, HSI has 65 operational attaché offices in 46 countries around the world. HSI special agents work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies through a robust network of specialized, vetted units known as Transnational Criminal Investigative Units. Additionally, HSI brings personnel from host countries to the United States to train at the Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.