US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents detained nearly 30 crew members from Disney's Magic cruise ship in San Diego earlier this month as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). The operation, which took place between 23 and 27 April, involved boarding eight cruise ships.
CBP confirmed that 27 of the 28 detained individuals—26 from the Philippines, one from Portugal, and one from Indonesia—were involved in the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of CSEM or child pornography. Their visas were cancelled, and they have been returned to their countries of citizenship.
Disney Cruise Line stated it has a zero-tolerance policy for such behaviour and fully cooperated with law enforcement. A spokesperson said that while most of the individuals were not Disney employees, those who were have been dismissed.
Passengers on the Disney Magic captured video of the arrests on 23 April. Traveller Dharmi Mehta expressed distress after seeing the head waiter, who had served her family shortly before, being led away in restraints. She spoke at a news conference alongside migrant rights groups, who also reported the detention of four crew members from Holland America's MV Zandam on 25 April.
The Port of San Diego clarified that its Harbor Police did not participate, citing California's SB 54 law, which limits local involvement in immigration enforcement. The port noted that the B Street Cruise Terminal is a federal port of entry, giving CBP jurisdiction over such actions.
