A Townsville man is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today (14 September, 2026) charged with possessing child abuse material.
The North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NQ JOCTF) charged the man, 45, on Thursday (10 September 2026), after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers located alleged child abuse material on a mobile phone following his arrival at Cairns Airport on an international flight.
ABF officers immediately referred the matter to police for investigation and NQ JOCTF officers seized the mobile phone for further forensic analysis.
The man was charged with one count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Louise McGregor said protecting children remained one of the AFP’s highest priorities.
“The AFP is committed to identifying and prosecuting people who access, possess or distribute child abuse material, regardless of the platforms they use,” Det a/Supt McGregor said.
ABF Superintendent Tracie Griffin said the detection highlighted the important role ABF officers play at Australia’s international airports in identifying potential threats and protecting the community.
“Child abuse material is abhorrent, and every ABF officer is committed to protecting children from the devastating harm it causes,” Supt Griffin said.
“Our officers are highly trained, intelligence-led and supported by our domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt criminal activity at the border.
“If you attempt to carry child abuse material across Australia’s border, you should expect to be caught.”
The NQ JOCTF comprises of the AFP, Queensland Police Service, Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
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.
