A Colombian court sentenced a Peruvian-born US national to 18 years and eight months in prison for the commercial sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old girl in Medellín, a case that underscores the cross-border dimension of digital child abuse. According to the Colombian Attorney General’s Office, the man contacted the minor via social media, offered money, and travelled to the city to consummate the abuse in February 2023. He was arrested at Medellín’s international airport in July 2024, and investigators recovered photographs and chat logs from his devices. The sentence, which remains subject to appeal, also orders his expulsion from Colombia after serving the full term. The mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, described the operation as a joint effort involving Colombian police, prosecutors, and the US Homeland Security Investigations agency.

In Brazil, two separate police operations this week targeted individuals accused of using online gaming platforms to groom children. In the state of Paraná, a 21-year-old man was arrested in Bahia after a mother discovered her daughter had been contacted via the Roblox platform and social media. The suspect allegedly posed as a 10-to-12-year-old to gain trust and solicit intimate images. Simultaneously, the São Paulo Civil Police arrested influencer Matheus Di Bernardi Martins, known as Spoteff, who had over 200,000 followers for his gaming content aimed at children. Investigators say he promised virtual currency and social media followers in exchange for sexual images, then blackmailed victims to provide more material. Both cases remain under investigation, with authorities examining seized devices for evidence of additional victims.

A Russian court in the Voronezh region sentenced a 32-year-old man to 12 years in a strict-regime penal colony for sexual acts against a minor under 14, committed via a messaging application between January 2023 and May 2024. The defendant denied guilt but paid 50,000 roubles in voluntary compensation. In Argentina, federal prosecutors requested 12-year prison terms for a lawyer and a Colombian national accused of running a webcam exploitation network that recruited at least 37 women with false job offers. The operation, based in San Juan, allegedly forced women to perform live sexual acts on platforms such as Stripchat and Chaturbate, retaining at least half of their earnings and imposing fines for infractions like menstruation or lateness. Prosecutors described the scheme as a form of organised crime that shifted exploitation into digital environments, and they are seeking the seizure of six properties and three vehicles, as well as the removal of all content from platforms.

Viewed from regional law enforcement agencies, the cases reflect a broader pattern in which perpetrators exploit the anonymity and reach of digital platforms to target vulnerable populations. Colombian authorities have noted a concentration of investigations in Medellín involving foreigners who use social media to contact minors, while Brazilian police highlight the growing use of gaming communities as hunting grounds. Argentine prosecutors argue that the use of cryptocurrencies and token-based payment systems complicates efforts to trace illicit proceeds. The Colombian sentence is subject to appeal, the Brazilian investigations are ongoing with the possibility of further charges, and the Argentine court has yet to rule on the prosecution’s request. The Russian conviction has entered into force.