A Queensland man appeared before the NSW Bail Division Courts today (18 February, 2026) charged with allegedly offering $700 for the procurement of children overseas for him to adopt and engage in sexual activity with.
An AFP investigation began after the man, 49, arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from China on 17 February, 2026.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted the man and examined his luggage following intelligence-led screening.
It will be alleged in court that child abuse material was located on the man's electronic devices, along with conversations with third parties in the Philippines discussing procuring children for sexual activity.
Police will allege the man asked a third party to find minors for him to adopt and engage in sexual activity with, in exchange for 30,000 Philippine pesos (about $730 AUD).
The matter was referred to the AFP, and the man was charged with:
One count of possessing, controlling, producing, distributing or obtaining child pornography material outside Australia, contrary to section 273.6 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
Two counts of using a carriage service to prepare or plan to engage in sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.25C(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
One count of procuring child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, contrary section 272.20 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He was refused bail and is scheduled to next appear before Downing Centre Local Court on 22 April, 2026.
The man faces a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment for the procurement charge.
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said children were not commodities to be used for the gratification of sexual predators.
"If you seek to harm and exploit children, wherever they are in the world, you will be on the AFP's radar," Det-Supt Needham said.
"You cannot escape the long arm of the AFP, and your abhorrent behaviour can always be tracked and traced.
"The AFP will continue to forensically examine the man's devices, associated cloud accounts, and financial transactions to determine the full scale of the alleged offending.
"We will also liaise with international partners and members deployed in the Philippines to identify any potential victims."
ABF Superintendent Elke West said the ABF has a zero-tolerance policy to child abuse material.
"ABF officers play a vital role in stopping illegal digital material at the border, including content depicting child victims both in Australia and overseas," Supt West said.
"When an inbound passenger is stopped and searched, our focus is always on safeguarding the Australian public - especially the young and most vulnerable.
"ABF officers are dedicated to protecting the community and we will continue to work with our domestic and international partners to catch, investigate and prosecute all persons associated with this abhorrent activity."
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 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.
