Two males have been arrested and charged in Nigeria over an alleged sextortion offence which led to an Australian boy taking his own life last year.
In 2023, police commenced an investigation into the alleged sextortion of a teenage boy, who is believed to have taken his life as a result of the threats.
Initial inquiries revealed the boy was engaging with an unknown person online, who threatened to share personal photos of the boy with his family and friends if he did not pay $500.
The matter was initially investigated by local police before being referred to State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad.
Cybercrime Squad detectives traced the accused to Nigeria, before requesting assistance from the Australian Federal Police to pursue them further.
Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) worked with their dedicated Cybercrime Liaison Officer based in South Africa to share intelligence with the Nigerian authorities.
Last month, detectives were informed that two young males – located in a slum in Nigeria with a population of 25 million people – had been arrested and charged over the alleged sextortion offences.
The males will be dealt with locally, where authorities have the power to prosecute for Australian based offences.
Commander of State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad, Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft, said the message to young people everywhere is you don't need to suffer in silence.
"We've seen a huge spike in sextortion cases, which are up nearly 400% in the last 18 months – but the good news is people are reporting it and there are steps we can take to help you before it goes too far.
"We want young people to continue to report these cases, and to never be embarrassed to talk to police. Sextortion is a very real crime that we can take serious action against," Det Supt Craft said.
"These arrests in Nigeria show just how far police are willing to go to seek justice on behalf of our young community."
AFP Commander Helen Schneider commended the work of NSW Police, ACCCE and JPC3 and said the arrests showed what could be achieved when law enforcement worked together to fight a global problem.
"The sextortion of children is a borderless crime, as these arrests show," Commander Schneider said.
"The partnerships between law enforcement here in Australia and around the world are vital as we work together to protect children online."
For more information on sextortion, head to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) website or www.esafety.gov.au.
