Aerial Recovery, in partnership with Honduras' Tactical Agency for Criminal Investigation (ATIC), supported two critical arrests in separate operations targeting individuals accused of heinous crimes against children. Both suspects face charges including aggravated sexual assault and the production or possession of illegal material involving minors.
In the first case, authorities arrested a suspect in La Ceiba after a months-long investigation revealed a calculated pattern of online grooming and exploitation. The accused allegedly used TikTok to contact a 15-year-old girl in October 2025, pressuring her to create explicit content while attempting to offer money in exchange.
According to investigators, the suspect arranged to meet the victim at his residence, where he allegedly committed acts of sexual violence while recording them. He then used threats to force the minor's continued compliance, a common tactic used by predators to maintain control over their victims.
The case broke open when the brave young survivor disclosed what happened to a trusted relative, who helped her report the incident to authorities. The swift action led to the suspect's arrest and prevented further harm.
The investigation took an even more disturbing turn when it connected to a second case involving a 13-year-old boy. On November 20, 2025, the boy reported that a security guard had invited him to accompany him during a night shift at a security booth where the guard worked.
Once inside, the suspect allegedly threatened the child with a firearm, forced him to undress, and committed acts of sexual violence, recording the assault on his phone. The boy managed to escape and immediately sought help. His family filed a formal complaint the following day.
When authorities moved to arrest the security guard, they discovered he already had an outstanding warrant from 2018 for the aggravated sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl, a warrant that had gone unserved for seven years.
Both operations were conducted by ATIC's Exploitation and Trafficking Unit in coordination with Aerial Recovery, which provided direct operational support through open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigation and mission funding. Aerial Recovery's trained personnel worked alongside Honduran law enforcement to build the cases and execute the arrests safely and effectively.
"These predators relied on fear, isolation, and technology to exploit children," said Britnie Turner, Co-Founder of Aerial Recovery. "But when survivors find the courage to speak up, and when law enforcement and organizations like ours work together, we can stop them. These arrests help bring justice for these brave young people and protect countless others."
Aerial Recovery is now involved in follow-up investigations to identify and apprehend consumers of the illegal material produced in these cases, a critical step in dismantling the broader network of exploitation.
Predators increasingly use social media platforms to identify, groom, and exploit minors. The process often follows a pattern:
Contact: Predators pose as peers, talent scouts, or job recruiters
Grooming: They build trust, offer compliments, gifts, or money
Isolation: They move conversations to private platforms
Exploitation: They pressure victims to create explicit content or meet in person
Control: They use threats, blackmail, or violence to maintain power
Parents and guardians must take action to help protect young people:
Talk regularly about online safety and the tactics predators use
Monitor social media accounts and friend lists
Teach children that adults asking for photos, videos, or secret meetings is never okay
Create trust so children know they can report uncomfortable situations without fear
Watch for warning signs: withdrawal, secretive behavior, unexplained gifts or money
"Every child deserves to grow up safe, free, and protected," Turner added. "These operations remind us that predators operate both online and in our communities. We must remain vigilant, educated, and willing to act when something doesn't feel right."
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