Five children who suffered alleged sexual abuse have been rescued after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted a phone examination at Sydney Airport which triggered an operation in the Philippines.
On 14 April 2022, a 59-year-old Australian man was subject to a baggage examination when returning from Thailand. A search of his electronic devices revealed images and videos depicting child abuse material. Officers also identified message exchanges between the man and woman believed to be a Filipino national. The messages concerned the exchanging of child abuse material for payment.
ABF officers arrested and charged the man, who was subsequently found guilty of importing child abuse material. He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment and placed on the Child Protection Register.
The initial ABF detection was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who engaged with authorities in the Philippines as part of its ongoing commitment to targeting those producing child exploitation material anywhere in the world.
On 23 May 2023, agents of the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTRAD) conducted an operation in Bataan, Manila, where a woman was identified and arrested for possession of alleged child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
The woman's children - aged two, three, eight, 10 and 17 - were rescued during the operation.
ABF Commander Enforcement and Detained Goods East Justin Bathurst, said results like this demonstrate the immense value of diligent baggage examinations at our ports of entry.
"Thanks to our established partnerships within the law enforcement community, ABF officers have potentially saved these children from years of heinous sexual abuse," Commander Bathurst said.
"The Australian border is a critical component to stopping the distribution and production of child abuse material, and our specially trained officers are ready and waiting to detect and arrest anyone involved in this type of criminal, and detestable, activity."
AFP Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins said the AFP's expansive International Command meant law enforcement in Australia could help protect children from harm, no matter where in the world they lived.
"The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC), of which the AFP is a proud partner, provides enhanced means of driving a collaborative and coordinated response to target child sex offenders, irrespective of their location, and protect children in the Philippines," Det-Supt Perkins said.
"These arrests in Australia and the Philippines should serve as a warning to anyone involved in the heinous exploitation of children. Borders will not stop us from putting you before the courts and rescuing children in harm."
The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation Chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division highlighted the strong international law enforcement collaborative efforts in combating child exploitation in the Philippines:
"This would not be possible without the continuing cooperation with our foreign counterparts like the Australian Federal Police."
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
People in the community can also report suspicious border-related activity at any time through Border Watch. Reports can be made anonymously at www.borderwatch.gov.au
