Operation Aurora: 9 More Arrested in Cape Verde Probe
Cape Verdean authorities have intensified their crackdown on a sprawling child exploitation network, arresting nine more suspects on the island of Sal. The latest arrests are part of the ongoing “Operation Aurora,” which has now snared 25 people allegedly involved in a systematic campaign of abuse.
A Transnational Criminal Network
The Judiciary Police (PJ) announced on Friday that the latest group of detainees includes eight men and one woman. The suspects, aged between 18 and 81, include both Cape Verdean and Spanish nationals residing on the island. Shockingly, the police confirmed that the woman arrested is the mother of one of the victims.
According to a police statement, the suspects are believed to be members of a structured criminal network. They face grave charges including child prostitution, pimping, and the continuous sexual abuse and assault of minors.
Years of Systematic Abuse
The investigation, which has been active since July 2025, was launched following a series of reports regarding the victimization of children on Sal, a major tourism hub in the archipelago. Investigators believe the abuse began as early as 2023 and continued until the police intervention began.
“Some of the alleged victims are under the age of 14,” the Judiciary Police revealed, highlighting the extreme vulnerability of those targeted by the ring.
Legal Consequences
Operation Aurora has sent shockwaves through the local community as the scale of the exploitation comes to light. Of the 25 suspects detained since the start of the investigation, 18 have already been placed in pre-trial detention as the judicial process moves forward.
Authorities continue to investigate whether more individuals were involved in the network, emphasizing their commitment to dismantling the infrastructure that allowed such crimes to persist for years.
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