Federal authorities carried out a multi-day enforcement operation at the Port of San Diego in late April, detaining 28 crew members serving aboard several cruise vessels following an investigation linked to child sexual exploitation material. The operation unfolded while ships were alongside and passengers were disembarking, placing the arrests in full view of guests and terminal personnel.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations, officers boarded eight cruise ships between April 23rd and April 27th as part of what authorities identified as “Operation Tidal Wave.” Crew members from the Philippines, Portugal and Indonesia were questioned during the operation. Federal officials later stated that 27 of the 28 individuals interviewed were suspected of involvement in the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution or viewing of child sexual exploitation material.
The detentions involved personnel from multiple cruise operators, including employees serving aboard vessels operated by DCL-Disney Cruise Line. The company stated that it maintained a zero-tolerance approach toward such offences and had cooperated fully with federal investigators. Disney further indicated that those employees connected to the investigation were no longer employed by the company.
Passengers aboard the Disney Magic described witnessing crew members being escorted from the vessel by federal agents as the ship completed its turnaround in San Diego. Passenger Dharmi Mehta, who recorded part of the operation, later recalled that the officers initially appeared indistinct among terminal personnel until their agency markings became visible.
Federal agencies confirmed that visas connected to the detained crew members had been revoked and that the individuals were being returned to their respective countries of citizenship following processing by authorities.