Dismantled in the Philippines a criminal network tied to the death of Daniel Perry

MANILA (Philippines) - INTERPOL coordinated operation against organized crime networks responsible for sexual extortion cases worldwide has led to the arrest of 58 people, including 3 group linked to men who harassed the Scottish teenager Daniel Perry.

Perry committed suicide at 17 years old last July Forth Road Bridge jumping, located on the outskirts of Edinburgh, after suffering an attempt to blackmail through Internet.

In the first operation of this kind conducted to date, thanks to the information exchanged between the Centre against Digital Crime INTERPOL, the police of Hong Kong and Singapore and Cybercrime Group of the PNP was able to identify between 190 and 195 people working for organized crime groups and acted from Philippines.

Close cooperation between the police of Scotland, Research direction Homeland Security (HSI) US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) US, Office Cybercrime Justice Department of the Philippines and the CEOP center for protection against online child exploitation, subsidiary of the British organization fighting crime National Crime Agency, He allowed to victims of sexual blackmail in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States. Also, other possible victims were located in Australia, Korea and Malaysia, in addition to the hundreds of people from Hong Kong and Singapore already it knew suffering such activities.

The operation, denominada STRIKEBACK ("counterattack"), It was a series of raids on
30 April and 1 May by the Philippine National Police in Bicol, Bulacan, Laguna and Taguig, in which agents seized 250 They are covering electronic testing mobile phones, Laptops, storage devices and networks, and ammunition.

Those arrested include Vincent Regori Bravo, Jomar Palace (alias Park Ji Man) and Archie (Gian alias) Tolin, British victims of alleged harassers, who they have been charged with various offenses , including the violation of the law regulating computer access devices.

These operatives working Blackmail almost industrial scale from similar offices to call centers, receive training, and they can get bonuses and incentives, as vacation days, cash or mobile phones, if they meet the economic objectives.

Sexual blackmail is often defined as the use of data or images of erotic or pornographic content for sexual favors or money from the victim; the amounts required vary between 500 and 15 000 USD. In addition to the networks established in Asia, there is also evidence of the existence of persons or groups acting against victims from Africa across Europe.

"These sexual extortion networks have immense scope and work with one goal: get money regardless of the great emotional damage they inflict on their victims ", said Sanjay Virmani, Director of the Centre against Digital Crime INTERPOL.

"The success of the operation Strikeback due to cooperation between bodies responsible for enforcement of the participating countries, particularly the Philippine National Police, and come to demonstrate the crucial role played by INTERPOL in coordinating international research and support for its implementation ", declaró Noboru Nakatani, Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation, which houses the aforementioned Centre against Digital Crime.

"We also strongly suggest that when the INTERPOL Global Complex Innovation opens this year, the greater possibility of exchanging information will reap more successes and tighten the noose around cybercriminals worldwide ", concluyó Noburu Nakatani.

The head of the Philippine National Police, Alan la Madrid Purisima, he indicated that his institution continue by finding and arresting anyone involved in sexual blackmail.

"These arrests show our continued determination to bring those criminals to justice and our willingness to cooperate with law enforcement around the world to achieve this goal", He declared.

"This successful operation grew out of a meeting of INTERPOL, and we look forward to continued collaboration to show that there can be no place to hide ".

Meanwhile, Malcom Graham, director of felonies and citizen protection Police Scotland, stated: "A Scottish teenager has died as a result of these activities via the network. They are unimaginable impact on your family, his friends and his environment ".

"Our message is clear: the work we do is to maintain the safety of citizens and no concealment possible, anywhere in the world, for criminals who carry out these activities, that is picking on the most vulnerable and easy to coerce and blackmail ".

"The fight against sexual exploitation of children is a global effort", said John G. Connolly, Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs HSI. "The HSI works closely with community law enforcement around the world for joint operations, and it provides both training and expertise to many countries. Our mission leads us to cross oceans to protect children, wherever you are, and ensure that offenders are put in the hands of justice ".

The Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom has provided funding to the operation Strikeback, both designed to coordinate the initiative and to undertake a training project to help address future cybercrime.

Asif Ahmad, UK Ambassador in Philippines, He declared: "Cybercrime takes many forms, It does not recognize national boundaries and can affect us all. The provision of international cooperation in this investigation by various agencies responsible for law enforcement around the world sends a message to the perpetrators of these crimes: there is no place where they can hide ".

Specialized officials from the participating countries in the operation will proceed to the analysis of seized materials in order to identify other victims and track the investigations.

The Strikeback operation has focused on sexual extortion networks, but there are many more types of sexual crime committed through the Internet and strives to combat INTERPOL in cooperation with law enforcement and specialized agencies.

As, for example, sexual blackmail pedophiles to minors. In these cases, offenders already have a sexual interest in the child in question. Through social networks assume the identity of a child who wants to befriend the victim and build trust, and often it encourages you to send images in which he appears naked and engaged in sexual activity. A continuación, The blackmailer threatens to show the images to force the child to produce more material, and usually more explicit.

Sexual abuse of children "on demand" live via web cams are other online crimes against children. Criminal groups put children on the street, or children of their own families, pedophiles available to other countries in exchange for money.

Abusers can be found anywhere in the world, and pay criminal groups that provide them access to children. Pederast abroad can direct the sexual abuse of a child or to several children, to perform sexual activities each other, and pays an amount so that images will be broadcast live.

The unit of INTERPOL's Trafficking in Persons and Exploitation of Children manages the International Database on Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE), containing almost 2 500 records identified victims of sexual exploitation, from 41 countries. In addition to providing essential help to track down criminals, This database is also an important tool to avoid the repetition of police work when it tries to identify victims who have been rescued.

One of the main objectives of global awareness campaign next INTERPOL, denominada Turn Back Crime (Stop the crime), It is to raise awareness of how organized crime is introduced into our daily lives, and helping citizens to protect.