A 24-year-old Broken Hill man has been arrested and charged by New South Wales Police after an Australian Border Force (ABF) investigation into an alleged attempt to import a child-like sex doll.
The life-like doll was detected by ABF officers in Sydney, who were examining air cargo at the border.
On 25 May 2023, ABF Investigators and NSW Police executed Customs Act 1901 search and seizure warrants on a premises in Broken Hill, NSW.
During the search, officers located additional prohibited material including a further child-like sex doll along with what is alleged to be child abuse material on a number of mobile phones, laptops and hard drives that were seized as evidence.
ABF Commander Enforcement and Detained Goods East, Justin Bathurst, said results such as this illustrate the importance of our border protection powers in the interest of maintaining community safety.
“Millions of items are imported into Australia each and every year. ABF officers are trained to target goods of concern, with matters regularly referred for investigation,” Commander Bathurst said..
“Regardless of the location, be it the city and surrounds or regional Australia, the ABF will pursue criminal prosecution of those attempting to import prohibited items or objectionable material.”
The man was arrested and charged by NSW Police with possession of child abuse material and possession of a child-like sex doll. The ABF investigation remains ongoing and will likely result in additional charges for importing a prohibited item contrary to section 233bab(5) of the Customs Act 1901. The man has been bailed to appear at court in the coming weeks.
Anyone with information about suspicious border activity or border-related crime can report it anytime through Border Watch at borderwatch.gov.au. Information can be provided anonymously.
