In an unexpected turn of events, a 34-year-old employee of Royal Caribbean is charged with committing a horrific privacy violation by surreptitiously placing cameras inside passenger cabin bathrooms in order to spy on visitors.
Arvin Joseph Mirasol’s arrest on federal charges of production and possession of child pornography has sent shockwaves through the cruising community, raising grave concerns about safety and security onboard such vessels.
Covertly Installed Hidden Camera
The disturbing saga unfolded after a guest staying in a cabin attended by Mirasol stumbled upon a hidden camera discreetly affixed underneath the sink counter on February 25. Promptly reporting the incident to ship officials, a swift investigation was launched, unraveling a web of deceit and violation.
Mirasol, a citizen of the Philippines, was detained onboard the Symphony of the Seas until March 3, when the ship docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Following his detention, he faced interrogation by agents from Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, leading to the uncovering of deeply unsettling revelations.
Agents examining Mirasol’s electronic devices stumbled upon a disturbing cache of content, including “numerous videos of naked females” and horrifying images depicting child sexual abuse.
Among the shocking discoveries was a video capturing the installation of a camera inside a guest cabin’s bathroom, painting a chilling picture of Mirasol’s calculated exploitation.
Most alarmingly, one of the retrieved videos depicted a 10-year-old girl undressing and entering the shower, underscoring the depravity of Mirasol’s actions and the vulnerability of innocent passengers.
Read more: Privacy Concerns Mount As Elon Musk’s Platform X Rolls Out IP Address Visibility
Royal Caribbean Statement
Examining his phone, an SD card, and a USB stick, agents found “numberous videos of naked females” in addition to pictures of child sexual assault, according to the affidavit. In one of the recordings, Mirasol could be seen setting up a camera in the restroom of a guest cabin.
The affidavit stated that a 10-year-old girl entered the bathroom, took off her clothes, and had a shower in a single five-minute video.
Since starting work on the ship in December, Mirasol admitted to investigators that he had been installing cameras in restrooms.
Apart from the concealed cameras, Mirasol reported to the agents that he entered rooms during visitors’ showers and concealed himself beneath the bed. The affidavit stated that he would then record them dressing.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean claimed that Mirasol has been let go and that the business is helping with the inquiry.
Read more: NYPD Officer’s Nude Photo Goes Viral, Lawsuit Follows
