After the recent raid, everyone is eager to know what was found on the Disney Cruise ship. After all, it is not a casual incident when we hear of a Disney cruise ship being raided. Between April 23 and April 27, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found Disney employees who were in possession of and distributing child sexual exploitation material.
CBP conducted a targeted operation at a port in San Diego where Federal agents boarded eight different cruise ships as part of an ongoing investigation into Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM)also known as child p*rn*graphy. Here’s what was found on the Disney Cruise ship.
What was found on the Disney Cruise ship raided
During the targeted operation, the Federal agents interviewed 28 crew members, which revealed a lot. As NBC News reported, according to a CBP representative, 27 out of the 28 crew members who were interviewed:
“We involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of CSEM or child p*rn*graphy”
While the investigation included employees from the Disney Cruise Line (specifically on the ship Disney Magic), it was not limited to them. Other companies, including Holland America confirmed that some of their workers were also involved.
What was found on the Disney Cruise ship is that the workers involved in the incident were not all of the same nationality. 26 of them were from the Philippines, one from Portugal, and one from Indonesia. As a result of the revelation of their crimes, all the 27 crew members found to be in possession of the materials had their visas revoked and were immediately deported to their home countries.
NBC News also reported that Disney Cruise Line has stated that they have a
“Zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior.”
and Disney confirmed through a spokesperson,
“While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company,”
Disney has also highlighted that this kind of behavior is not something they will tolerate as their guests and their safety are their highest priority. Holland America on the other hand, described the allegations as
“Deeply disturbing”
and confirmed they had terminated the employees involved in the crimes.
The Port of San Diego’s Harbor Police noted that they had not participated in the operation because the terminal is a federal port of entry under CBP jurisdiction. Thus, state law prohibits local police from participating in immigration-related investigations.
What was found on the Disney Cruise ship is not only disturbing, but raises concerns regarding what kind of screening process the employees of Disney and Holland America go through to be hired, and if such processes need to be revised given the recent incident. The reports regarding the incident so far have not specified what triggered the initial investigation, and as of now, federal agencies have not released the names of the individuals.
Besides, it is yet to be confirmed if they would face further criminal prosecution in the U.S. or their home countries. From the point of view of the guests aboard the ship and the children whose privacy and innocence were exploited, it is hoped that the individuals involved in the crimes face appropriate consequences beyond termination.
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Edited by Subho Mukhopadhyay