A man will appear at court today on charges of child procurement and drug possession after being arrested by detectives investigating online child abuse, NSW Police say.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
In January, strike force officers began engaging online with a man from the Sydney’s north-west.
Police will allege in court the man believed he was speaking to a 14-year-old girl and made numerous sexually explicit comments to the child, and made arrangements to meet with her.
About 4.30pm today, the 39-year-old man was arrested by strike force detectives outside an aquatic centre at Parramatta.
Shortly after, detectives searched a home at Top Ryde, where they seized electronic devices, a mobile telephone, cannabis, and prescription drugs.
With the assistance of detectives from Orana Local Area Command, another search was conducted at a home in Dubbo, where police seized a computer, tablet, and electronic storage devices.
The man was taken to Parramatta Police Station and charged with use carriage service to procure persons under 16, possess prohibited drug, and possess prescribed restricted substance.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court tomorrow.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the Child Exploitation Internet Unit and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers.
