A Bangladeshi national accused of operating an international child sexual exploitation enterprise was transported to Alaska to face federal charges, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Zobaidul Amin, 28, pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance in Anchorage on Thursday after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) took custody of him in Malaysia earlier this week.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Amin abused and exploited hundreds of children across the U.S., as well as throughout the world.
FBI agents escort Zobaidul Amin to an airplane in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, for transport to Anchorage, Alaska, where he faces charges of child pornography and exploitation. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP)
“[This] is another successful example of the administration’s increased efforts to find criminals hiding abroad,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a news release.
“Together with our international partners and the U.S. Department of State, we are countering online child sexual exploitation, protecting our most vulnerable, and bringing these sick abusers to face justice on American soil,” she added.
According to court documents, Amin was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 on multiple charges, such as child pornography, cyberstalking, and wire fraud.
Investigators said Amin used social media to identify and coerce minors into producing sexually explicit images and videos, including content described in court records as sadistic in nature.
At the time of Amin’s indictment, he was living in Malaysia and attending medical school. In September 2022, Malaysian authorities charged him with 13 counts related to the possession and production of child pornography.
U.S. officials worked in coordination with Malaysia to secure Amin’s transfer and he was extradited to Alaska on March 4.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau remains committed to pursuing offenders regardless of where they are found.
“The FBI’s commitment to protecting our children from exploitation doesn’t change whether an offender is here in the United States or overseas,” said Patel. “In collaboration with our partners, we will continue to ensure perpetrators like Amin are held accountable and brought to justice.”
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska called the case one of international magnitude, describing it as “one of the most prolific cases of alleged online child exploitation the United States has ever seen.”
Amin faces charges including conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, child exploitation enterprise, production and receipt of child pornography, cyberstalking, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud.
If convicted, Amin faces a potential sentence ranging from 20 years to life in prison.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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