A retired French intelligence officer has been arrested in eastern France and charged with multiple child exploitation crimes linked to Kenya.
The 58-year-old ex-spy, whose name remains undisclosed for legal reasons, is accused of orchestrating, paying for, and consuming graphic abuse content involving minors in Kenya.
The crimes were uncovered after a U.S.-based anti-child exploitation foundation discovered his videos online and alerted French authorities.
His arrest shines a harsh light on the expanding underworld of human trafficking perpetrated in Kenya, where vulnerable children are preyed upon by foreign predators.
Global Crime Ring Uncovered in French Arrest
The arrest of the ex-intelligence officer in Strasbourg on July 25 followed a months-long investigation into live-streamed child sexual abuse content. Strasbourg Public Prosecutor Clarisse Taron confirmed that the man was placed in custody on Monday and later remanded on Friday after facing serious charges.
These include aggravated human trafficking, rape and sexual assault of minors, and the production and distribution of child pornography. Reports indicate that the man, who often traveled to Kenya under the guise of work, directed and funded the abuse of children remotely.
He allegedly paid Kenyan adults to exploit children sexually while he watched live or viewed recordings later. These disturbing scenes were either streamed or stored in encrypted online platforms where other offenders could pay to access the content.
The French daily Le Parisien revealed that the suspect acted as both consumer and director in these acts. Authorities believe his offenses may stretch back several years, with Kenya being a frequent point of exploitation due to its growing vulnerability in child protection systems.
The growing trend of Western-based perpetrators orchestrating crimes remotely and targeting African nations has alarmed both international and local anti-trafficking units. This case provides yet another chilling example of how technology is used to fuel a new wave of abuse.
The Kenyan Connection and Local Impact
This arrest also brings renewed attention to cases of human trafficking perpetrated in Kenya, where poverty and lack of robust enforcement leave children exposed. Just weeks before the French suspect was arrested, Kenyan detectives busted a couple in Mombasa for trying to sell their children for online sexual exploitation.
The mother, aged 41, had been using a dating app to advertise her three children—two girls aged 13 and 7, and a boy aged 4. The father, 52, was reportedly defiling their oldest daughter repeatedly while the mother filmed and sold the footage online.
The arrest, carried out by the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU) in coordination with the DCI Changamwe, followed a public tip-off.
The couple’s actions mirror the kind of crimes directed by the French suspect—adults exploiting their own children and selling the content to foreign buyers.
These local cases reflect a disturbing trend where Kenyan children, especially those from poor or broken homes, are increasingly being turned into commodities in a global trade driven by demand from wealthier nations.
The use of encrypted messaging apps and dating platforms makes it harder for authorities to trace and stop the abuse before it happens.
Both the French suspect and the Kenyan couple face life imprisonment under Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, a law that provides stiff penalties but has not fully deterred offenders due to challenges in enforcement and detection.
Tech, Trafficking, and the Global Demand
The internet has become a tool of terror for vulnerable children. With just a smartphone and access to a secure connection, abusers in any part of the world can connect with traffickers and buy access to horrific content.
Kenya has become a prime target due to weak oversight, limited digital monitoring, and high poverty levels that make children more vulnerable.
Live-streamed child abuse is one of the fastest-growing forms of exploitation globally. Often, the abuse happens on request, and the scenes are tailored to the predator’s desires. In some cases, children are abused in real-time while the perpetrator gives commands or instructions remotely.
This is the exact scenario uncovered in the French investigation. The retired spy was reportedly issuing instructions, choosing his victims, and then rewarding abusers with payment once they delivered the videos.
International law enforcement agencies are increasingly working together to trace such crimes. However, experts say more must be done in countries like Kenya to build technological capacity, raise public awareness, and provide safe reporting channels.
