A Sydney man is expected to appear in Downing Centre Local Court today (31 January, 2025) charged with four child abuse material-related offences and drug possession.
AFP Child Protection investigators arrested the man, 58, yesterday (30 January, 2025) at a Sydney CBD hotel.
The AFP allegedly identified the man while investigating a report from the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a user uploading child abuse material online.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the Sydney man to the illegal online activity.
They executed a search warrant at the man's hotel room on 30 January, 2025, allegedly finding more than 300 files of child abuse material on electronic devices. The devices will be subject to further forensic examination.
Investigators also found a clip-seal bag containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
AFP Detective Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said the AFP remained committed to protecting our community's most vulnerable - our children.
"Anyone who views this material is committing a crime,'' Det-Insp Tsardoulias said.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
"This is not a victimless crime. Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators."
The man was charged with:
Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
One count of possessing a prohibited drug, contrary to section 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). The maximum penalty for this offence is two years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
