India, Aug. 22 -- Eleven foreign nationals working aboard cruise ships docked in Boston were arrested and processed for removal from the United States following an investigation into alleged involvement with child sexual abuse and exploitation material, US Customs and Border Protection said.

The enforcement action, conducted from August 14 to 16, involved officers from CBP and agents from Homeland Security Investigations, according to a CBP release issued August 20.

Officials boarded the Volendam and Norwegian Breakaway and encountered 11 individuals: nine citizens of the Philippines, one citizen of Indonesia and one citizen of Nicaragua.

The Boston operation was part of Operation Tidal Wave, a multiagency initiative aimed at identifyi...