Detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have arrested and charged a 25-year-old man in Katherine yesterday for a number of child sex offences.
Yesterday, Northern Territory Police and Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant on the man's premises. They located the man in possession of a mobile device, electronic tablet and laptop which contained child abuse material.
He was also identified as engaging in the trading of child abuse material through the use of an encrypted application and possessing more than 10,000 child abuse files through encrypted file storage platforms.
The man has been charged with the following Commonwealth offences:
- 3 x Possess child abuse material
- 1 x Possess child pornography material
- 3 x Solicit child abuse material
- 1 x Access child abuse material
He was remanded in custody to appear in Katherine Local Court today.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said, "The Northern Territory Police and the Australian Federal Police will continue to go to great lengths to identify and arrest those who believe that they can hide behind encryption and the anonymity of the internet to commit these abhorrent crimes. International collaboration is key to bringing these people before the courts."
AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the AFP is committed to stopping child exploitation.
"We have people working around-the-clock with our international and domestic partners to bring to justice those who seek to do harm to children and we will not stop," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the 'Report Abuse' button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
