CBP says 87 foreign cruise crew members removed in Boston operation
The multiagency initiative targets alleged possession and distribution of child abuse and exploitation material among cruise ship crews.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said 87 foreign crew members had been removed from various cruise ships at the Port of Boston since mid-August under Operation Tidal Wave. The agency said the Boston-area effort would continue through the remainder of the fiscal year.
CBP describes Operation Tidal Wave as an agency-led initiative conducted with Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It seeks to identify and apprehend crew members associated with possessing, producing, obtaining, distributing or using child sexual abuse or exploitation material.
In one action on September 20, CBP said six Philippine citizens encountered aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway admitted during secondary interviews at Boston Logan International Airport that they had previously possessed such material. Officers searched their living quarters and electronic devices, according to the agency. The six were processed for removal of conditional landing under an Immigration and Nationality Act provision addressing crimes involving moral turpitude.
Seven other Filipino crew members were arrested after their vessels arrived in Boston, according to the report. CBP had not publicly provided their identities, onboard roles or specific reasons for removal. A separate case involved eight Majestic Princess crew members, but no individual details were provided.
CBP said earlier phases produced administrative enforcement actions against 27 crew members from six vessels in San Diego and 14 removals in San Juan, including one federal prosecution.