A Perth man has been charged after Australian Border Force (ABF) investigators at Sydney International Airport located alleged child abuse material on his phone.
The 33-year-old man was intercepted and selected for a baggage examination after he arrived on a flight from the United States of America on Sunday (5 July, 2026).
Following an examination of the man’s phone, ABF officers found alleged child abuse material, with a second device subject to further investigation.
The man was arrested and charged with:
- Importing a Tier 2 good, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901; and
- Possess/control Child Abuse Material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on 1 September, 2026.
Following the arrest, the matter was referred to the AFP and a search warrant was executed at a home in Perth, where AFP officers seized several items for further forensic examination.
Investigations are ongoing.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Josh Gilmour said the AFP worked closely with local, national and international law enforcement agencies to protect children and pursue those who exploited them.
“Behind every image is a real child who has been exploited. The AFP and its international policing partners work closely to identify those children and remove them from harm – no matter where in the world they live,” Det a/Insp Gilmour said.
ABF Superintendent Shaun Baker said ABF officers and investigators work every day to detect criminal activity at the border and ensure those involved are held accountable.
“The ABF maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the possession, importation and distribution of abhorrent child abuse material,” Supt Baker said.
“These are not just files on a device – they are records of the abuse of real children, and the possession of this material supports the continued exploitation of victims.
“The ABF is committed to working alongside partner agencies to combat child exploitation offending and ensure the safety of vulnerable children both in Australia and abroad.”
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.
