FBI arrests Bangladeshi national in Malaysia over child exploitation charges

The FBI has arrested a Bangladeshi national in Malaysia on charges of running a global child sexual abuse network, according to a US Department of Justice press release.

The arrested individual was identified as Jobaidul Amin, 28. He was taken to Alaska, United States, on Wednesday and was scheduled to appear before a state court on Thursday, March 6.

According to court documents, a federal grand jury indicted Amin in July 2022 on charges involving the exploitation of hundreds of minors across various US states, including Alaska, and abroad.

Amin allegedly used social media apps including Instagram and Snapchat to find minors and coerce them into producing explicit images and videos. He was studying at a medical school in Malaysia before the charges were filed. In September 2022, he faced 13 charges related to possessing and producing child pornography.

The FBI and Justice Department worked jointly with Malaysian authorities to arrest Amin.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi was quoted as saying the arrest demonstrated the administration's intensified efforts to track down criminals hiding abroad.

If convicted, Amin will face 20 years to life imprisonment.