Detectives from the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) arrested a man in Avondale Heights yesterday and seized firearms, cash and drugs as part of an investigation into online child exploitation.
With assistance from the Dog Squad and the AFP, warrants were executed at 6am at a residential property in Avondale Heights and a storage facility in Ravenhall.
They subsequently seized over $100,000 cash, two firearms, two gel blasters, ammunition, a commercial cash counting machine and traffickable quantities of prescription drugs and drugs of dependence.
A 33-year-old Avondale Heights man was charged with trafficking drug of dependence and deal with proceeds of crime.
He was bailed to face Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 26 September.
Police also seized a number of electronic devices from the address and will allege he was paying children online for exploitation material.
A 34-year-old Avondale Heights woman was interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
The investigation into the online child exploitation matters remains ongoing.
The Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) is comprised of investigators from Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police.
Anyone with any information about online offending is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link
Offences for the possession, distribution and access of child abuse carry penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment in Victoria. Victoria Police will continue to work with other state and federal law enforcement agencies, both in Australia and across the world, to ensure we are continuing to improve our response to this type of crime.
Note to media:
USE OF TERM 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL, NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'
Use of the phrase "child pornography" benefits child sex abusers because it:
• indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not "pornography".
