Zwijndrecht man, 23, detained for child pornography and sextortion of minor girls
A 23-year-old man from the municipality of Zwijndrecht remains in custody on suspicion of producing and possessing child pornography, as well as sextortion targeting minor girls and young women, Dutch police said. He was brought before an investigating judge on Monday, who ordered his pretrial detention. Authorities believe a large number of victims have been affected in the Netherlands and abroad.
Police said the investigation began after a tip from abroad. Officers searched the suspect’s phones and found a large volume of photos, videos, and online chats. Investigators believe victims sent him nude images, which he then allegedly used to blackmail them. He is also suspected of pressuring victims into performing “serious” sexual acts on themselves.
The case is part of a wider pattern of major sextortion cases in the Netherlands in recent years. Sextortion refers to online blackmail in which someone threatens to share nude images unless the victim sends more sexual content or complies with demands.
One of the most prominent involves Mark S. from Borculo. In that case, which ran from 2011 to 2023, he allegedly blackmailed at least 20 girls using nude and bikini photos. He was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment. Prosecutors described it as one of the largest sextortion cases in the country.
In another major case in Spijkenisse, Damian D., known online as “Turpien,” admitted in court to blackmailing dozens of girls. Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence and TBS psychiatric treatment. The case followed an international investigation into his online activity.
Authorities said at least 60 victims have been identified in that case, mostly teenagers and young women, including some from the United States. Several victims reported severe psychological harm, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Authorities warned that additional victims may still exist.
A nationwide awareness campaign linked to these cases was launched. The campaign, which included Snapchat outreach, reached more than 1.1 million young people.
After the campaign, five people came forward to Dutch police to report online sexual offenses. None were linked to the Spijkenisse suspect. Instead, they involved other cases of online sexual crime, including two reports from abroad. Police said the response shows that awareness efforts can prompt victims in different cases to come forward.
Dutch authorities and support organizations are increasingly warning about a sharp rise in sextortion cases. They say that some of the perpetrators are increasingly targeting younger victims, sometimes children under 12.
In relation to the Zwijndrecht case, the police stated that anyone affected by sextortion should understand it is not their fault. They stressed that responsibility lies with the offender, not the victim.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) and victim support group Offlimits say perpetrators are also escalating demands, pushing victims toward more extreme sexual acts. Police previously reported that complaints of online sexual abuse rose 46 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year. Offlimits also said that its helpline received 12,004 requests for help in 2025, up from 9,700 in 2024.
