The AFP has executed 15 search warrants and charged nine people with more than 30 online child abuse offences during a two-week blitz, with assistance from NSW Police Force (NSWPF) and Australian Border Force (ABF).
The AFP's Operation Titan follows an increase in reports of child abuse material made to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE). In the 2024-2025 financial year, the ACCCE received more than 82,700 reports of child exploitation, a 41 per cent rise from the previous financial year.
More than 140 members from the AFP, NSWPF and ABF executed search warrants between 28 August and 11 September, 2025, in metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong. This activity coincides with the end of National Child Protection Week (7-13 September, 2025), part of the joint agencies' ongoing commitment to combating this insidious crime type.
The most significant arrest involved a Wyongah man, who allegedly paid for live online child sexual abuse involving minors offshore on three occasions.
More than 50 electronic devices, including phones, laptops, USBs and hard drives, have been seized by police and will be subject to further forensic examination.
None of the individuals charged currently hold employment positions with access to children.
The accused face offences with a maximum penalty of 10 to 20 years' imprisonment.
AFP Commander Brett James said creating, possessing and sharing child abuse material was not a victimless crime, and left victims with lifelong trauma.
"Perpetrators are indifferent to the harm they cause victims and are only motivated by their abhorrent desires," Commander James said.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you commit these crimes, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
"Law enforcement agencies around Australia have an essential focus on protecting children and work to find and apprehend those who seek to exploit them or contribute to the wider exploitation of children around the world by creating a demand for this abuse material.
"I am extremely proud of the work of our investigators, as well as our colleagues at NSW Police Force and ABF, who we work together with every day to ultimately protect the most vulnerable people in our communities."
NSW Police Force Detective Acting Superintendent Rachel Fawcett, Commander Sex Crimes Squad, said NSWPF investigators worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to track offenders who exploited children online and hold them to account.
"Every successful operation and arrest is a step toward a safer digital environment, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice and protecting our children."
ABF Superintendent Shaun Baker said Border Force officers worked collaboratively with law enforcement and other border agencies to detect and stop abhorrent child abuse material from crossing our border.
"Our officers engage with children in all sorts of operation circumstances, whether they're passing through our ports and airports, during our work within the community or when we encounter serious instances of abuse," Supt Baker said.
"Increasing awareness around child abuse material ensures we are not masking the taboo topic anymore - as this year's theme highlights, shifting conversation into action. ABF officers across the country take action daily to prevent child abuse material crossing the Australian border.
"I have experienced firsthand the vital role we play in protecting our most vulnerable, including children. We will always prioritise keeping children out of harm's way."
Case studies
Chippendale
A Chippendale man, 37, was charged on 2 September, 2025, with:
- Two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to make available child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
It's alleged the man was the administrator of multiple online group chats where members posted and traded child abuse material.
Two electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
He appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on 3 September, 2025, and was refused bail. He is scheduled to appear before the same court on 29 October, 2025.
Chittaway Bay
A Chittaway Bay man, 43, was charged on 11 September, 2025, with:
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of causing child abuse material to be transmitted to self using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years' of age, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Two counts of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment for the first two offences.
It's alleged he uploaded explicit material of a female minor to a social media platform.
Three electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
The man appeared before Wyong Local Court on 12 September, 2025, and was granted strict conditional bail. He will reappear before the same court on 7 November, 2025.
Cranebrook
A Cranebrook woman, 34, was charged on 9 September, 2025, with:
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit, make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
It's alleged she uploaded 14 files containing child abuse material to a social media platform, and received more than 100 illicit videos and images from an instant messaging application.
Two electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
She appeared before Penrith Local Court on 10 September, 2025, and was granted conditional bail. She is due to reappear before the same court on 7 November, 2025.
Meadowbank
A Meadowbank man, 37, was charged on 11 September, 2025, with:
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW); and
- One count of possessing a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 18 of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 (NSW).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
It's alleged the man uploaded child abuse material to social media platforms.
Electronic devices, a taser and SIM cards were seized during a search warrant.
He appeared before Burwood Local Court on 11 September, 2025, and was refused bail. He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on 25 September, 2025.
Moss Vale
A Moss Vale man, 35, was charged on 28 August, 2025, with one count of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communications to a person under 16, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
It's alleged the man engaged in online sexualised conversations with two female minors based in the Philippines.
Four electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
He was granted police bail to appear before Moss Vale Local Court on 16 September, 2025.
South Windsor
A South Windsor man, 18, was charged on 4 September, 2025, with:
- One count of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service for child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit, make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
Seven electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
He appeared before Penrith Local Court on 5 September, 2025. He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on 31 October, 2025.
Sylvania
A Sylvania man, 35, was charged on 8 September, 2025, with:
- Four counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Three counts of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment for the Commonwealth charge.
It's alleged the man posed as a female online and engaged in sexualised conversations with minors and received sexually explicit content.
Seven electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
He appeared before Sutherland Local Court on 8 September, 2025, and was granted conditional bail. He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on 4 November, 2024.
Wollstonecraft
A Wollstonecraft man, 34, was charged on 10 September 2025, with:
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of causing child abuse material to be transmitted to self using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit, make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
It's alleged the man accessed animated pornography which featured characters that appeared to be underage.
Multiple electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
He appeared before Manly Local Court on 10 September, 2025, and was granted conditional bail. He is expected to reappear before the same court on 4 November, 2025.
Wyongah
A Wyongah man, 62, was charged on 11 September, 2025, with:
- One count of sexual activity, other than sexual intercourse, with a child outside of Australia, contrary to section 272.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of causing child abuse material to be transmitted to self using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment for the sexual activity offence.
It's alleged the man exchanged almost 200 messages and paid an alleged Filipino child trafficker for live-streamed child sexual abuse involving minors.
He allegedly paid the trafficker for three video calls, believed to be live-streamed child sexual abuse, which went for 56 minutes in total.
Five electronic devices were seized during a search warrant.
The man appeared before Wyong Local Court on 12 September, 2025, and was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on 7 November, 2025.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the 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.
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.
