Daily London
Australian child exploitation investigators received a tip-off from their US counterparts last year that an online user was uploading child abuse material on social media platforms.
Australian Federal Police officers allegedly linked the illegal activity to two Gladstone men, aged 26 and 19.
Officers searched a home in New Auckland in November and found a number of electronic devices belonging to the 26-year-old, including two mobile phones, that allegedly contained child abuse material.
They later examined the social media accounts of the 19-year-old and found he had allegedly sent child abuse material to another party via an online chat account.
The 26-year-old was charged with one count each of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service and possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained using a carriage service.
The 19-year-old man was charged with one count of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained using a carriage service and two counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service.
These offences carry minimum jail terms of 15 years.
Both men are due to face Gladstone Magistrates Court today.
”Anyone who views child abuse material is committing a crime,” Detective Acting Superintendent Kurt Wesche said.
“Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you procure, access, or transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators, and we will continue to target those who seek to exploit children.”
If abuse is happening right now, call Triple Zero.
