Ivica Dačić, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, announced that six individuals were apprehended as part of the ongoing Operation Armageddon, and criminal charges have been filed against one person through standard legal procedures.

According to a statement released by the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, “Members from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Technical Directorate, and the Service for Combating High-Tech Crime, in collaboration with the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, the Specialized Department for High-Tech Crime, and local police departments in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Sremska Mitrovica, have arrested six individuals between March 3 and March 13 during the continuation of Operation ‘Armageddon’. Additionally, criminal charges were brought against one individual through regular legal channels.”

The arrested individuals, identified as AV (23), IG (30), MD (49), MV (31), and MJ (40), face allegations of displaying, obtaining, and possessing pornographic materials, as well as exploiting minors for pornographic purposes. Meanwhile, JJ (21) has been charged with exploiting a computer network or communication technologies to commit sexual offenses against a minor, as reported by N1.

A criminal complaint has also been lodged against the suspect NR (24) for suspected involvement in the display, acquisition, and possession of pornographic material and for exploiting a minor for pornography.

The suspects AV, IG, MD, MV, MJ, and NR are accused of systematically downloading, storing, and distributing materials derived from the exploitation of children for pornographic aims over an extended period. They allegedly communicated with minors via social media using fake accounts, sharing pornographic images and videos, and acquiring content produced from the exploitation of minors.

In one instance, the suspect JJ utilized a bogus account on a social networking site to arrange a meeting with a 14-year-old girl.

During searches of the suspects’ residences, law enforcement uncovered several dozen gigabytes of multimedia materials (photos and videos) generated through the sexual exploitation of children, primarily aged between 6 and 14. The investigation revealed that the perpetrators had systematically categorized this material by age, name, gender, and other factors, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Authorities also found messages where minors were solicited to perform sexual acts at meetings. In addition, one suspect was found in possession of 20 grams of a substance resembling the narcotic drug amphetamine, which has been sent for forensic testing.

The suspects AV, IG, MD, MV, and MJ have been ordered to be detained for up to 48 hours and are expected to be brought before the competent prosecutor’s office alongside a criminal report, while JJ has also been handed over with a criminal report.

News