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Dozens arrested in massive multistate child exploitation crackdown

A total of 76 people were arrested, including 34 in Georgia, in a Georgia Bureau of Investigation-led operation against child pornography and sexual exploitation of children.

ATLANTA — A total of 76 people were arrested, including 34 in Georgia, in a Georgia Bureau of Investigation-led operation against child pornography and sexual exploitation of children.

The joint effort -- called Operation Southern Impact II -- was coordinated by nine Internet Crimes Against Children task forces in eight states.

The images these people are accused of downloading, recording and sharing were of infants and toddlers.

"It will not be tolerated, and it will definitely not be tolerated in the state of Georgia," GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Nicole Carr on Friday.

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Six of those arrested in Georgia traveled for the purpose of meeting and having sex with a minor, according to the GBI.

"In a lot of situations, people admitted. They have a past history. Some were registered sex offenders," Miles said.

The arrests were the result of a two-month investigation.

"An operation like this, we really just want to send a loud, booming message that it won't be tolerated," Miles said. "Truthfully, we could do operations like this every single day if we wanted."

CLICK HERE for the entire list of people arrested and more details.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this report.