The Arkansas State Police (ASP) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies, has concluded two major operations — Operation Safe Online Summer (SOS) and Operation Cookie Crumbs — resulting in significant arrests, child rescues, and the disruption of numerous internet-based child exploitation crimes.
Spanning April and May 2025, these operations were launched to combat the increasing threat of online crimes targeting children.
Operation SOS, conducted from April 1–30, was part of a nationwide initiative involving all 61 ICAC Task Forces across the United States. The month-long campaign aimed to identify and apprehend individuals engaged in the trafficking of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online child exploitation, and grooming, while also promoting public education and awareness.
Highlights from Arkansas’s participation in Operation SOS include:
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76 investigations opened
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54 arrests made (including four hands-on offenders)
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13 children rescued from ongoing abuse
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24 new child victims identified
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39 cases submitted for prosecution
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86 search warrants executed
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Over 248 devices examined
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More than 13 terabytes of digital data analyzed
Operation Cookie Crumbs, a state-led operation conducted May 1–16, focused on digital traces (or “cookies”) left behind by known offenders. Led by ASP and the Arkansas Department of Corrections’ Division of Community Correction, the operation monitored previously convicted individuals, conducted compliance checks, and responded to emerging digital threats.
Operation Cookie Crumbs produced the following results:
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20 investigations opened
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28 arrests made (including one hands-on offender)
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One child rescued and two additional victims identified
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12 cases submitted for prosecution
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31 residential compliance checks completed
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70 devices examined
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Over 5 terabytes of digital data analyzed
“These coordinated efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to protect Arkansas’s children,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar. “By combining investigative power with education and community engagement, we are making it harder for predators to hide behind their screens.”
The ICAC Task Force also conducted public outreach and educational presentations throughout the state to equip families, educators, and communities with tools to identify and report online exploitation.
Anyone with information regarding child exploitation or suspicious online activity is urged to contact local law enforcement or submit a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.
