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Community / Crime & Safety

HSI Reports Sharp Rise in Child Exploitation Arrests in Puerto Rico

Published Jul 9, 2026, 2:36 PM ASTvia El Nuevo Día

At a glance

  • HSI has reported an increase in arrests for child exploitation cases, with 29 arrests so far this year
  • The majority of victims are male minors, with 11 out of 29 cases involving male victims
  • There is no single profile of predators, with arrests ranging from 19 to 63 years old and including individuals from different social classes and professions

Why this matters: Child exploitation is a significant concern in Puerto Rico, where the power of law enforcement to protect vulnerable populations is crucial.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Juan reported a significant increase in child exploitation arrests, according to acting deputy director Francisco Calderón. With three months left in the federal fiscal year (October 2025–September 2026), HSI has already surpassed last year’s total of 25 arrests, reaching 29 so far. In just the last two weeks, five people were arrested in Puerto Rico and one in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Those detained include Israel Arroyo Chiqués, 63, brother of the former mayor of Aguas Buenas, charged with coercion and seduction of a minor and possession/distribution of child pornography involving a 14-year-old; Giovanni Almeyda Lonergan, 40, who had prior cases in Florida, charged with possessing and transporting child pornography; and Alejandro Morales Valera, 25, and Gabriel Andrés Vélez Ramírez, 28, accused of coercing a five-year-old to produce explicit visual material via cellphone between May and June 2026.

In context

SourceEl Nuevo DíaOriginal in Spanish · 787daily summarizes; the reporting is theirs · How we work · Report an error

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