# INTERPOL-Assisted Operation Leads to Arrest of U.S. Citizen Wanted for Child Sexual Abuse in South Africa
**GQEBERHA, South Africa** — A 56-year-old United States citizen was arrested on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, at his residence in Kabega Park, Gqeberha, in connection with alleged rape and sexual assault of his minor daughter.
The suspect, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed to protect the victim’s identity, was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice issued at the request of U.S. authorities. According to official statements, the charges stem from a 2017 report filed by the victim’s mother with the San Antonio Police Department in Texas. At the time of the alleged offenses, the victim was 12 years old. Investigators allege the suspect sexually assaulted his daughter and engaged in a pattern of sharing explicit text messages with her over an extended period.
Following the initial investigation in the United States, the suspect fled the country. INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pretoria subsequently traced him to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Acting on a formal extradition request from the United States, INTERPOL NCB Pretoria executed a Section 5(1)(b) warrant under South African law. The operation was conducted with operational support from the Nelson Mandela Bay District Intervention Task Team, the Crime Combating Unit, and Mount Road Crime Intelligence.
The suspect remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 29 May 2026. He will face an extradition application filed by the government of the United States of America to the Republic of South Africa. Should the court approve the application, the suspect would be transferred to U.S. jurisdiction to face criminal proceedings on the charges of rape and sexual assault of a minor.
South African authorities emphasized their continued cooperation with international law enforcement partners through INTERPOL frameworks to ensure that individuals accused of serious crimes cannot evade justice by crossing borders. The case underscores the role of multilateral mechanisms in addressing transnational criminal matters, particularly those involving the protection of children.
