Eleven people were busted for alleged possession and distribution of kiddie porn aboard two different cruise ships in Boston on Friday — the third takedown of pedophiles on an ocean liner this year.
The 11 foreign laborers — nine from the Philippines, one from Indonesia, and one from Nicaragua — were employed aboard Holland America’s Volendam and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway and detained during the operation, which lasted from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16, federal officials announced Thursday.
“Protecting children from exploitation is among our highest priorities, and this operation demonstrates the critical role CBP officers play in identifying and stopping individuals who pose a threat to public safety,” Julio Caravia, acting director of field operations for Customs and Border Patrol’s Boston Field Office, said in a press statement.
The identities of those arrested have not been released and authorities did not specify how many were arrested aboard each of the ships.
Federal agents scoured the alleged sickos’ electronic devices and living quarters to retrieve the abuse material.
They are scheduled for deportation.
The Boston investigation is the latest component of Operation Tidal Wave, a multi-agency initiative led by CBP and the Department of Homeland Security that targets cruise ship crew members involved in the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The operation follows two earlier phases this year.
In April 2026, the first phase in San Diego resulted in administrative enforcement actions against 27 crewmembers from six vessels, all of whom were processed for removal and returned to their home countries.
A second phase, conducted in San Juan during June and July 2026, involved administrative enforcement actions against 14 crewmembers from three vessels, with one crewmember also facing federal prosecution, according to CBP.
“These allegations are deeply disturbing, and we have zero tolerance for criminal behavior,” Holland America Line told The Post.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and immediately terminated the individuals involved.”
Holland America Line declined to comment on how the crew members were hired or what it will do to screen future job candidates.
Norwegian Cruise Lines did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
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