A retired French military officer has been detained in eastern France on serious allegations of orchestrating child sexual abuse in Africa, particularly in Kenya.
Strasbourg public prosecutor Clarisse Taron confirmed the man’s arrest last Friday, revealing that he is in custody as investigations continue.
According to reports by Le Parisien, the 58-year-old suspect is facing multiple charges, including ‘aggravated human trafficking,’ ‘rape and sexual assault of minors,’ and ‘capture, import, and dissemination of pornographic images involving minors.’
Authorities allege that the former spy traveled extensively to Kenya for work and used his trips to facilitate and coordinate sexual abuse remotely.
The investigation was sparked after French authorities received a tip from a US-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting child exploitation. The nonprofit discovered videos online that appeared to feature the suspect engaging in and viewing child abuse scenes, prompting further inquiry.
Authorities believe the suspect ordered the rape of children in Kenya and paid for their abuse, filming the acts to satisfy his criminal urges. The videos were reportedly streamed or recorded, with some accessed by international clients seeking to exploit vulnerable children.
This case highlights the rising trend of live-streamed child abuse, which has seen an alarming increase globally. Exploiters often pay for access to these videos, which depict children from impoverished or vulnerable backgrounds. Authorities worldwide are intensifying efforts to combat such crimes.
In recent weeks, law enforcement agencies in France and Kenya have made significant arrests related to online child exploitation. Last month, a French man aged 55 was detained in Colombia on suspicion of engaging in online paedophilia. Additionally, a Kenyan couple was arrested in Mombasa for attempting to sell their children online, following a tip-off from local detectives.
The international community continues to work together to dismantle child exploitation networks and protect vulnerable children from abuse.
