A New South Wales man living in Western Australia was scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (7 November, 2025) charged with allegedly transmitting child abuse material on an instant messaging application.
The AFP issued the man, 57, with a summons on 20 October, 2025, after an investigation that began in August, 2025.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Perth Airport stopped the man after he arrived on an international flight on 19 August, 2025.
ABF officers allegedly found child abuse material on the man's mobile phone and reported the matter to the AFP, after which AFP investigators seized the device and launched an investigation.
Forensic examination of the phone found allegedly sexualised conversations with an unknown user on an instant messaging application in which they shared images and videos containing child abuse material, along with deleted images containing child abuse material, including bestiality.
The man was charged via summons with one count of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Acting Inspector Fleur Jennings said the AFP remained committed to working with law enforcement partners to protect children from online predators.
"We work so closely with other agencies to keep children safe from harm and put alleged offenders before the court," a/Insp Jennings said.
"Our message to anyone allegedly involved in these awful crimes against children is clear, our relentless investigators will find you and prosecute you."
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said the ABF uses targeted intelligence to help frontline officers at the airport identify individuals of interest potentially involved in this harmful and abhorrent activity.
"Unfortunately, our officers are detecting child abuse material on the devices of passengers far too regularly," Supt Eldridge said.
"The public can be assured that we will continue to act decisively with our partners when child abuse material is uncovered."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach.
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.
