A Villawood man is scheduled to appear before Bankstown Local Court today (13 November, 2026) charged with child abuse and child exploitation offences.
The AFP investigation began after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers identified alleged child abuse material on a mobile device when the man, 29, arrived in Sydney on an international flight last month (23 October, 2026).
ABF retained the device and conducted a forensic examination, during which officers located additional alleged child abuse material, which was referred to the AFP for investigation.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at a Villawood home yesterday (12 November, 2026). An electronic device was seized for further examination.
During the search, investigators seized three prohibited weapons and a laser pointer.
The man was charged with:
- One count of using a carriage service for sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.25A of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment;
- 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). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment;
- One count of producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.23 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment; and
- One count of unauthorised possession of a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 7 of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
The man was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.
