A Royal Caribbean cruise staffer is suspected of concealing cameras in passenger cabin restrooms to spy on visitors, especially underage girls.
Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, was detained on federal counts of producing and possessing child sexual abuse material when the Symphony of the Seas docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the United States District Court of Florida. He is also facing six counts of voyeurism in state court.
A guest staying in a cabin where Mirasol was an attendant discovered a camera in the bathroom on February 25. It was “affixed to the counter underneath the sink,” according to the affidavit. She reported it to ship officials, who dispatched security to the room to investigate.
Mirasol, a Philippine citizen, was kept on the ship until March 3, when it docked in Fort Lauderdale. Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office all questioned him.
Agents uncovered “numerous videos of naked females” as well as photographs of child sexual assault when searching his phone, SD card, and USB stick, according to the affidavit. One of the movies showed Mirasol putting a camera in a guest cabin’s bathroom.
According to the affidavit, in a five-minute video, a 10-year-old girl entered the bathroom, removed her clothes, and entered the shower.
Mirasol told investigators that he had been placing cameras in bathrooms since he started working on the ship in December.
“I want to control it, but I can’t,” he told detectives, according to the affidavit. He admitted knowing it was prohibited to videotape young girls. Agents questioned how he picked where to place the cameras. “If I like who is in that room, I place it,” he told them.
In addition to the hidden cameras, Mirasol informed authorities that he entered rooms when guests were showering and hid under the bed. The affidavit states that he would then record them getting dressed.
Royal Caribbean said in a statement that it has fired Mirasol and is cooperating with the investigation.
“We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior,” the statement read.
