A total of 31 individuals, including six underage boys, have been arrested in a nationwide crackdown on the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) under Op Pedo Bersepadu, a special operation conducted by Malaysian authorities between 22 and 30 September.

According to the New Straits Times, police seized an alarming 880,000 CSAM and adult pornographic files during 37 coordinated raids across the country. The number marks a 20-fold increase compared to last year’s operation, which recorded only 40,000 digital files seized.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail revealed that those arrested come from diverse backgrounds, including teachers, engineers, religious educators, graphic designers, students, undergraduates, and even unemployed individuals. 

Suspects include a 12-year-old boy and even a religious teacher

The suspects, aged between 12 and 71, were detained following an extensive investigation involving 206 officers from 14 police contingents, supported by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“One of those arrested was a religious teacher,” Khalid said. “These crimes now involve individuals entrusted with moral and educational responsibility – a clear signal of how deep this problem has infiltrated society.”

Among the most shocking discoveries was that of a 12-year-old boy found with thousands of explicit files in his possession. Another suspect, a 17-year-old, allegedly earned RM76,000 selling sexually illicit materials he obtained online.

Police confiscated 82 digital devices, including computers, smartphones, and modems, all containing explicit materials. Khalid described the operation’s findings as “deeply troubling,” noting that the sheer scale of seized content highlights the exponential growth of online sexual crimes in Malaysia.

Last year’s Op Pedo Bersepadu, launched on 23 December 2024, saw 13 arrests across six states – Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Terengganu, Penang, and Perak. Authorities discovered over 40,000 explicit materials stored in computers and hard drives, many hidden under folders deceptively labelled “Kids” and “Rape.”

The suspects in that operation were identified through intelligence sharing between the police and MCMC, revealing widespread use of social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps such as X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram to distribute CSAM.

Legal action and ongoing investigation on child porn and more

So far, police have opened 29 investigation papers under multiple laws, including:

• The Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017
• Section 292 of the Penal Code (related to obscene materials)
• The Immigration Act 1959/63

According to Khalid, 17 suspects have already been charged – 15 convicted and fined between RM1,000 and RM10,000, while two others are standing trial. The remaining individuals have been released on police bail pending further investigation.

How can we strengthen digital safety?

Khalid emphasised that the unprecedented number of seized materials underscores the urgent need for enhanced digital-forensic capabilities, data-storage infrastructure, and inter-agency collaboration to address the growing threat of online sexual exploitation.

He urged Malaysian families to remain vigilant online, practise digital safety education, and report any suspicious activities involving children to the authorities immediately.

“The fight against child exploitation requires vigilance at every level – from families to law enforcement,” Khalid said. “We must all play our part to protect children from becoming victims of these heinous crimes.”

Background on Op Pedo Bersepadu

Op Pedo Bersepadu is an ongoing nationwide initiative spearheaded by Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11). The operation aims to identify and dismantle CSAM networks operating within Malaysia, ensuring that individuals who possess, distribute, or profit from child exploitation materials are brought to justice.

Since its launch, the operation has exposed a disturbing trend – that child-sex exploitation networks are no longer confined to the dark web or foreign syndicates, but have permeated everyday professions and communities across Malaysia.

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