Ten detainees suspected of consuming minors | Israel today

An undercover agent impersonating a 14-year-old boy has exposed dozens of men who had had blatant sexual correspondence with him on a popular app • Police will ask to extend their detention

In the last two days, the police have arrested ten suspects from all over the country for involvement in committing sexual offenses and consuming a minor's prostitution online.

Ten detainees on suspicion of conspiracy to commit minors and sexual offenses on the Internet // Photo: Police spokeswoman

In Unit 105 in Blade 433, they began the overt phase of a covert investigation that lasted several months, during which an adult police agent was activated impersonating a 14-year-old minor who receives payment in exchange for sex services.

The operation of the agent was supervised by the Cyber ​​Department of the State Attorney's Office.

During the interrogation, which was conducted, among other things, in familiar apps among teenagers, dozens of adult men approached him, even though they were aware that they were corresponding with a minor, and conducted correspondence with him with blatant sexual content.

As part of the correspondence, the suspects sent pictures with sexual content, nude pictures of themselves or those who pretended to do so, video files with pornographic content and asked the minor to take a nude photo of himself and send it to them.

Subsequently, some of the suspects sought and pushed for a physical sexual encounter with the agent, in exchange for monetary payment in various amounts and offers to stay in the B&B and in their private car, describing to him their desires for a sexual encounter with him.

As mentioned, the police arrested three suspects last night (Monday), after two of them met with the "minor" at the end of correspondence with him, and in the morning, seven more suspects aged 30-60 were arrested.

Due to its severity, scope and consequences, the investigation of the phenomenon of minors 'prostitution in the network is one of the objectives of Unit 105. Over the past year, a number of cases have been conducted in the field and various indictments have been filed against suspects accused of minors' prostitution.

It should be noted that those suspected of such offenses operate in camouflage, using sophisticated methods, including fictitious profiles and applications that allow anonymous registration.

According to the police, all of these are joined by the challenge of persuading minors, who are allegedly engaged in prostitution, and harnessing their families to cooperate with the police.

Later in the day and in accordance with the needs of the investigation, the suspects will be brought for a hearing in the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court.