Bukit Aman CID seizes 95 items and uncovers 540,127 CSAM files in nationwide Op Pedo 3.0 crackdown, with 53 suspects aged 13 to 56 detained.
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 53 individuals, including eight minors, one aged 13, were arrested for suspected involvement in activities linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Op Pedo Integrated 3.0 conducted nationwide recently.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said the suspects were detained in simultaneous operations conducted from Sept 14 to 16 following intelligence gathered by the CID’s D11 unit with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Police also detected activities involving the production, distribution and sale of CSAM-related videos and animations through closed online groups, with the material being offered for between RM50 and RM60.
“The value may not be substantial, but what is more worrying is the trend and direction of these activities. This is what needs to be given serious attention.
“Payments can also be made through various methods such as e-wallets, PayPal and Touch ‘n Go. The fact is that children and young people today are much more adept at using social media and various digital platforms,” he told a media conference on Op Pedo Integrated 3.0 here today.
A total of 92 targets were screened in the operation, involving 406 police officers and personnel and 43 MCMC officers across 14 states, with 52 raids resulting in the arrest of 53 individuals aged between 13 and 56.
The detainees comprised 51 men and two women, including 52 Malaysian citizens and one Bangladeshi national, as well as two public servants in the education sector – a teacher and a laboratory assistant from two separate institutions.
Police also seized 95 items, including laptops, mobile phones, storage devices and sex toys, while uncovering 653,193 digital files comprising 540,127 CSAM files and 113,066 adult pornography files.
Kumar said 52 investigation papers had been opened under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, Penal Code, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Immigration Act 1959/63 and Film Censorship Act 2002.
“As of Sept 21, 23 investigation papers had resulted in charges being filed in court, with 11 resulting in convictions, while the remaining 29 were still under further investigation,” he said.
He said 170 individuals had been arrested through a series of operations against such crimes since Op Pedo 1.0 in 2024 and Op Cyber Guardian in 2025, with a total of 369 items seized and 2,123,887 CSAM and adult pornography digital files uncovered.
Kumar also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s digital activities, stressing that law enforcement efforts must be supported by awareness and continuous monitoring at family level.