A 60-year-old West Australian man has appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court after being charged with allegedly possessing and transmitting child abuse material.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted the man and sent him for a baggage examination on his arrival into Perth Airport from Singapore on 28 February. Officers identified allegedly sexually explicit messages and child abuse images on the man’s electronic devices.
After further investigations by ABF, the matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in mid-March for investigation.
Police will allege the Craigie man communicated with overseas-based children via social media platforms to engage them in sexually explicit activity.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said the AFP and its law enforcement partners were committed to protecting children from online sexual abuse.
“The AFP and its partners work tirelessly, sharing intelligence and all available tools to identify and arrest alleged offenders in the effort to keep children safe,” Det Supt Chwal said.
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.”
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said the Australian Border Force is committed to protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
“Through intelligence-led targeting, our officers actively disrupt attempts to import, access or distribute child abuse material,” Supt Eldridge said.
“Every detection prevents further harm to those most vulnerable in our community and sends a clear message that there is no safe avenue for this abhorrent material.
“The ABF works closely with law enforcement and other border agency partners to disrupt illicit and harmful activity at the border and ensure those responsible are held to account.”
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.
