Federal authorities arrested 11 foreign cruise ship crew members in Boston during a multi-agency operation targeting individuals allegedly associated with child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said officers and Homeland Security Investigations agents boarded Holland America Line’s Volendam and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway during an operation conducted from August 14 through August 16, 2026.
The enforcement action was part of Operation Tidal Wave, a federal initiative focused on identifying cruise ship crew members associated with the possession, use, procurement, production, or distribution of child sexual exploitation material and child sexual abuse material.
According to CBP, the 11 individuals included nine citizens of the Philippines, one citizen of Indonesia and one citizen of Nicaragua.
Federal officials said agents searched the individuals’ living quarters and electronic devices and consulted with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. All 11 were subsequently processed for removal from the United States under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act covering crimes involving moral turpitude.
CBP said the individuals were being processed with assistance from the shipping agent and were scheduled to leave the United States.
The agency’s announcement is important to distinguish from a conventional criminal prosecution. Although CBP described the individuals as having been arrested in connection with the operation, the August 21 announcement says all 11 were processed for removal. It does not state that all 11 have been federally indicted or convicted of criminal offenses.
The Boston action is the latest phase of a broader federal effort involving cruise ship personnel. CBP said an earlier phase in San Diego in April resulted in administrative enforcement actions against 27 crew members from six vessels. Another phase in San Juan during June and July resulted in administrative actions against 14 crew members from three ships, with one case accepted for federal prosecution.
