ICE holds training on combating child exploitation
BOGOTA, Colombia — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents from the HSI Colombia Attaché Office hosted a one-week law enforcement training on combatting the sexual exploitation of children.
Twenty-three law enforcement representatives from the Colombian National Police Directorate of Specialized Investigations, the Colombian National Police of Criminal Investigations and the Colombian Attorney General's Office participated in the training that wrapped up Friday.
The training focused on methods of open source investigative techniques designed to assist in the identification and apprehension of child predators.
"These trainings are critical in our continued global fight against child predators," said Luis Sierra, HSI attaché in Colombia. "These monsters go to great lengths to evade detection and prey on our most vulnerable. Because of this, we must have a united global front that knows no borders or boundaries."
This event was held as part of HSI's Operation Predator, 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 child sex trafficking. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.
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.
Updated: