French prosecutors said Monday that police had arrested a man suspected of operating pedophilia sites on secret "darknet" internet networks providing pornographic videos and pictures to thousands of people worldwide.

The 40-year-old arrested near the city of Bordeaux on July 7 was described by prosecutors as "one of the 10 most-wanted targets" of authorities fighting child sex crimes around the globe.

The suspect admitted the charges against him, Bordeaux prosecutor Frederique Porterie said.

AFP