Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged a man with allegedly possessing and soliciting child abuse material under Strike Force Angler.
Strike Force Angler was established in January 2026 by detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) to investigate individuals who allegedly use the internet to access, purchase or transmit child abuse material.
On Monday 1 June 2026, strike force detectives received a referral regarding the detection of child abuse linked to an account holder in Sydney’s north west.
Following extensive inquiries, about 7.30am yesterday (Wednesday 26 August 2026) strike force detectives executed a commonwealth search warrant in Castle Hill, seizing electronic devices that allegedly contained child abuse material.
A 20-year-old man was arrested and taken to Castle Hill Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of possess child abuse data-use carriage service, use carriage service-solicit child abuse material, two counts of use carriage to access child abuse material and transmit to self child abuse matter by carriage.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 27 August 2026).
Strike Force Angler inquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into the distribution of child abuse material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
