The Cybercrime Directorate conducted targeted investigations, as part of a global online operation codenamed "Pacifier", to combat child pornography
A 21-year-old Greek national from Thessaloniki was arrested, who was temporarily residing and working in a hotel in the Ilia region
A large number of files containing child pornography were found on his laptop
The Hellenic Police's Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, in collaboration with Europol Authorities, participated in a global operation codenamed "Pacifier" to combat child pornography and filed a relevant case file for immediate proceedings against a 21-year-old Greek national.
In particular, as part of the operation, an investigation was conducted on the TOR network to identify users involved in the possession and distribution of child pornography. Specifically, on a special "hidden service" platform of this network, which was seized by the US authorities, exclusively content with sexual abuse of minors was identified. The seized material was analyzed by the FBI and Europol, with the aim of identifying both the administrators of these Services and the user-members.
The investigations also revealed electronic traces within Greek territory, and the data was subsequently made available to the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office, which issued a relevant order to lift the confidentiality of communications.
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate immediately conducted a thorough analysis of the electronic traces and identified an electronic trace in the 21-year-old's internet connection.
A team of police officers went yesterday (19.08.2015) to the above-mentioned person's home in an area of Thessaloniki and, in the presence of a Judicial Officer, conducted an on-site investigation, during which an internal hard drive of a desktop computer belonging to the 21-year-old was found and seized.
It is noted that the 21-year-old, as emerged in the context of the investigation, was temporarily residing and working in a hotel in an area of the Prefecture of Ilia, where another police team went in the afternoon of the same day (19.08.2015), in order to conduct a new investigation.
The investigation, which was carried out in the presence of the 21-year-old, resulted in the discovery of his laptop computer, which contained numerous files containing child pornography, an act for which the 21-year-old was arrested while on the verge of a traffic stop.
In total, during the investigations, the following were found and seized: an internal computer hard drive, a laptop computer and a portable USB storage device.
All evidence will be sent to the Criminal Investigations Directorate for the necessary laboratory tests, while the investigation of the case continues, as the digital material will be examined by specialized officers, in order to determine the place of origin and the identity of the victims.
The 21-year-old, with the case file filed against him, will be taken to the competent Prosecutor's Office.
It is recalled that citizens can communicate, anonymously or by name, with the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate in order to provide information or report illegal or reprehensible acts or activities carried out via the Internet, at the following contact details:
- By phone: 111 88
- By sending an email to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr
- Through the application for smart phones with iOS – Android operating system: CYBERKID
- Via Twitter "SOS Cyber Alert Line": @cyberalertGR
