Hundreds arrested in Asia’s biggest crackdown on online child abuse  

An additional 109 people are being investigated, bringing the total number of suspects to 544.

The five-week crackdown, which ran from late February to March, involved police from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Officers raided 269 locations and seized hundreds of electronic devices, including computers, mobile phones, and storage drives. Investigators also found child abuse materials created using artificial intelligence.

In Singapore, 21 men aged between 23 and 61 were arrested for various crimes, including possessing and sharing child abuse materials, sexual assault, and threatening to leak intimate images.

Police said one 43-year-old man paid a young girl over several years to livestream sexual acts, while another 24-year-old man exchanged intimate photos with a victim and later threatened to release them online.

Both victims were from outside Singapore.

Authorities say the arrests highlight the growing threat of online child exploitation.

"These crimes cross borders, and we will continue working with international partners to bring offenders to justice," Singapore police said in a statement.

Police warn that anyone caught with child abuse materials could face up to five years in jail, while those distributing such content could get up to seven years. Both crimes also carry heavy fines or caning in some jurisdictions.

The operation is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia, and police say investigations are ongoing.