A south-west Sydney man is scheduled to appear before Fairfield Local Court today (17 December, 2025) charged with allegedly producing child abuse material while holidaying in Vietnam.
An investigation into the man began after the AFP received a report on 12 December, 2025, regarding an online user uploading unique child abuse material, believed to be captured in Vietnam, to a social media site.
AFP officers allegedly linked the Australian man, 40, to the illegal activity.
Police will allege the man travelled to Vietnam for a holiday in July, 2025, and produced child abuse material while there, which he later uploaded online.
Search warrants were executed in the south-western Sydney suburbs of Ashcroft, Hinchinbrook and Smithfield on 16 December, 2025. Two electronic devices were seized from these locations.
A preliminary review of a mobile phone allegedly revealed three files depicting child abuse material, with metadata indicating the files were taken in Vietnam on 16 July, 2025.
The man was charged with:
- Three counts of producing child abuse material outside Australia, contrary to section 273.6 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment; and
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
He was remanded in custody to appear in court today.
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said producing child abuse material, whether in Australia or overseas, was a criminal offence and punishable by jail time.
"If predators believe they can travel overseas to commit these despicable acts and evade law enforcement detection, they are mistaken," Det Supt Needham said.
"The creation, sharing and possession of child abuse material is abhorrent, and has profound and long-lasting impacts on the lives of victimised children.
"The AFP stands ready to identify and apprehend those who seek to harm children for their own grotesque fantasies."
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.
