CBP reports 87 cruise ship removals in Boston operation
Operation Tidal Wave has also prompted enforcement actions involving cruise crewmembers through federal offices in San Diego and San Juan.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had removed 87 people from cruise ships at the Port of Boston under Operation Tidal Wave as of Friday. Federal authorities said those involved face deportation or prosecution.
CBP said six Philippine citizens were removed from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway in Boston on Sept. 20. According to the agency, all six acknowledged previously possessing child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation material. The ship called at Portland twice in August and four times in September.
The agency’s website said investigators searched crew accommodations and electronic devices aboard Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Jewel and reported finding child sexual abuse material. Separately, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston said Bobby Prieto, a 35-year-old Filipino national working aboard Norwegian Jewel, was arrested and charged with one count of transporting child pornography. The ship arrived in Bar Harbor the next day.
Elsewhere, Operation Tidal Wave led to action involving 27 crewmembers through the San Diego office and 15 people through the San Juan office this year, according to CBP.