The operation—called Operation Iron Pursuit—involved all 56 FBI field offices, U.S. attorneys' offices, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide, according to the DOJ.
Federal officials said the operation targeted crimes including child sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, kidnapping, and possession, distribution, or receipt of child sexual abuse material.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
“The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims,” Blanche said.
The operation resulted in the recovery and identification of more than 200 child victims. Among them was a 10-year-old from Utah who was returned from Cuba to the United States with the child's biological mother.
“The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery,” stated the DOJ.
For the 350 predators arrested, included are a Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material involving adults and children, as well as to cyberstalking former partners; a District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography; a New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and a Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a firearm.
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
“Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice,” Patel said.
According to the DOJ, Operation Iron Pursuit built on the success of previous nationwide efforts in 2025, including Operation Relentless Justice, Operation Enduring Justice, and Operation Restore Justice. The operations led to hundreds of arrests and the rescue of hundreds of children.
“The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office,” states the DOJ.