Police have arrested thirty alleged peodophiles in just one Virginia county over the course of this month as part of 'Operation COVID Crackdown'.

The undercover investigation, designed to protect youngsters using the internet to take classes has seen a total of 68 felony charges put on 30 potential predataors.

Officers at Fairfax County Police found the pedophiles starting 'explicit conversations' with the decoy children online before trying to 'initiate sex' with them.

The alleged phedophiles, all male and aged 20 to 74, were arrested at the locations they had agreed to meet the 'underage children', who were actually police officers posing as chidren.

The phedophiles, all male and aged 20 to 74, were arrested at the locations they had agreed to meet the 'underage children'

All thirty arrested now face more than one count of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties or soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Major Ed O’Carroll, Bureau Commander of Major Crimes for the department said in a statement: 'Our detectives have remained vigilant and they recognized the increased threat posed by online predators in recent weeks.'

'I commend their ability to adapt during this unprecedented public health pandemic and to do so in the interest of protecting our children and bringing justice to those who commit these repugnant crimes.'

Major Ed O’Carroll, Bureau Commander of Major Crimes for the department said in a statement: 'Our detectives have remained vigilant and they recognized the increased threat'

The men arrested were either from Virginia county or had travelled from Maryland, West Virginia or Washington D.C.



More than 50 million children in the United States are at home due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced the shut down of schools, restaurants and bars, and other businesses deemed non-essential.

While states are developing plans to slowly reopen, it's unclear if that will take weeks or months, which means children will likely be at home for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school.

With many taking online classes this could mean they are spending more time on the internet and are therefore more exposed to dangers posed by peodophiles who use the internet to exploit children.

Names of those arrested in Virginina this month for alleged phedophilia: