Airline pilot suspected as head of global child pornography ring

The suspected head of an international child pornography ring was arrested Friday in Costa Rica as part of a probe coordinated with Spain and several Latin American countries, authorities said.

Agents, both local and from the global police agency Interpol, arrested the man and seized computers during raids across the country, said Marisel Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Judicial Investigation Organization.

Rodriguez said there was no indication as yet that pornographic material was produced in Costa Rica.

"It is presumed that he obtained the material and then spread it," Rodriguez told local media.

Local broadcasters identified the suspect as a 45-year-old commercial airlines pilot, reporting he did not resist arrest.

A San Jose criminal court decided to release him later in the day but he is not allowed to leave the country.

Authorities are not ruling out more arrests.

Rodriguez said the investigation began in April and was conducted in coordination with several countries, including Spain, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Uruguay.

Brazilian authorities said Friday they had arrested four people suspected of distributing child pornography online.

One suspect was uploading porn as authorities arrived at his home, police said.

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