Disney Cruise Employees Detained Among Dozens Arrested in Child Pornography Case
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, several employees aboard a Disney cruise ship docked in San Diego were among 28 individuals detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an operation targeting child sexual exploitation material (CSEM).
According to the federal agency, CBP officers boarded eight cruise ships between April 23 and April 27, 2026. Although the agency did not directly mention Disney by name, the report was later revealed by the California Post. Law enforcement officials questioned 26 Filipino crew members, one Portuguese crew member, and one Indonesian national suspected in the case.
A CBP spokesperson told Variety in a statement: “Officers confirmed that 27 of the 28 individuals under investigation were involved in receiving, possessing, transporting, distributing, or viewing child sexual exploitation material or child pornography. Their visas were revoked, and the offenders were returned to their respective countries.”
The identities of the detained employees have not been disclosed by the agency. A spokesperson for Disney Cruise Line also told Variety: “We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement authorities. While the majority of those individuals were not affiliated with our cruise line, those who were associated with us are no longer employed by the company.”
In April, passengers aboard the “Disney Magic” cruise ship recorded videos showing several employees being detained by immigration officers. One passenger, Dharmi Mehta, shared footage of a man she claimed had served as their waiter while being taken into custody. The names of the other cruise ships involved in the operation have not yet been disclosed by CBP.
