Arrest in Vitoria for Storing and Distributing Nearly 140,000 Files of Child Pornography

Officers from the Unit Against Specialized and Violent Crime (UDEV) of the National Police Station in Vitoria-Gasteiz have arrested a 46-year-old local resident. The individual is accused of child pornography offences, specifically for allegedly storing and distributing nearly 140,000 files of child pornography. The files, described as 'extremely graphic', contain images of minors 'subjected to acts of a sexual nature'.

According to a statement from the Government Delegation in the Basque Country, the investigation, which lasted over five months, was overseen by the Court of Instruction No. 4 in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The operation, conducted with international cooperation from various police services, began with the 'systematic and periodic tracking' of file-sharing networks known as 'peer to peer'. This is carried out by the National Police's Cybercrime Unit both nationally and internationally.

The primary aim of such tracking is to search for, locate, and identify users who may be downloading and distributing material containing child pornography. The investigation led to the geolocation of a suspicious IP address in Vitoria suspected of engaging in this illegal activity.

After various inquiries, the residence of the 'peer to peer' network user, responsible for using and distributing the tracked child pornography files, was located. A request was made to the Vitoria Duty Court to authorize entry and search of the home, as well as access to any electronic devices found, and their subsequent seizure.

Inside the computer, nearly 140,000 files of child pornography, described as 'extremely graphic', were found, containing images of minors 'subjected to acts of a sexual nature'.

Over more than five months, the files, mostly images, were extracted thanks to forensic technology available to the specialists involved in the operation. This activity not only involves extraction and decryption but also investigates access routes and digital distribution channels necessary for trafficking such material.