Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged three men with alleged online grooming offences under Strike Force Trawler.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
About 7.45am yesterday (Monday 21 September 2026) strike force detectives executed a commonwealth search warrant at a home in South Grafton, seizing multiple electronic devices.
Two men – aged 25 and 30 – were arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station.
The 25-year-old man was charged with use carriage to access child abuse material and possess child abuse data-use carriage service.
The 30-year-old man was charged with six counts of use carriage service make available child abuse, two counts of use carriage service-solicit child abuse material, three counts possess child abuse data-use carriage service and use carriage service to plan sexual act person under 16 years.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 1 today (Tuesday 22 September 2026).
As inquiries continued, about 8.30am today, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Forster, seizing electronic devices.
An 82-year-old man was arrested and taken to Forster Police Station, where he has been charged with use carriage service-groom under 16 years for sex and use carriage service-solicit child abuse material.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Forster Local Court on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
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.
