A 43-year-old Tasmanian man was charged with child exploitation offences after authorities executed a search warrant at a Chigwell property this morning.
The Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Tasmania Police members, charged the man with accessing and possessing child abuse material offences.
The Tasmanian JACET executed the search warrant at the man’s Chigwell property following a string of reports to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) via the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.
Detectives seized electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones and storage devices from the property for further forensic analysis.
It will be alleged in court that the NCMEC reports related to a man uploading and sharing child abuse material to a number of social media and blogging sites online.
He is expected to face the Hobart Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
Tasmanian JACET AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the AFP and its state and territory law enforcement partners remained committed to identifying, targeting and prosecuting those seeking to harm children in Australia and across the globe.
“Today’s arrest is another example of our tireless efforts to protect our community’s most vulnerable – our children,” he said.
“Together with our state and international law enforcement partners, the AFP is committed to tracking down and prosecuting those seeking to carry out these abhorrent crimes.”
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
