A South Maclean man is expected to appear before Richlands Magistrates Court today (1 October, 2025) for allegedly possessing child abuse material on his mobile phone.
The man, 43, was charged after AFP Northern Command Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (NC JACET) members investigated a referral from the United States' National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
NC JACET members executed a search warrant at the man's South Maclean property on 26 August, 2025 and seized a mobile phone.
Police allege the phone contained child abuse material, and was used by the man to comment on abuse material using a messaging app.
The man was subsequently arrested and conveyed to the Queensland Police Service's Richlands Watchhouse before being released on strict bail conditions.
He has been charged with one count of using a carriage service to possess child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Leading Senior Constable Jason Comer said the AFP, together with its state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners, were committed to disrupting and preventing child exploitation.
"We remain committed to working with law enforcement, government and online safety partners to identify, disrupt and prosecute offenders."
About the ACCCE:
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.
