An alleged online child abuse ring operating around the world has been busted by NSW Police, with several arrests made across five countries.
Detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad disrupted a series of alleged offshore online child-abuse networks, with urgent intelligence referrals leading to arrests in Uruguay, England, Poland, Mexico and the United States.
Arrests include a UK-based man who allegedly purported to be a woman while distributing child abuse material online, a man from South America who allegedly produced and distributed child abuse material and a Missouri man who was allegedly posting images and videos of child abuse to an online paedophile ring.
During the Missouri man’s arrest on Friday, a three-year-old child was rescued and placed into child protection.
The man remains in custody and is expected to be charged with offences relating to alleged child sexual abuse and child abuse material.
It’s understood local police swooped after receiving urgent information from NSW detectives that identified a US-based account holder allegedly posting images and videos of child abuse online.
It comes a month after a 23-year-old man, also from Missouri in America’s midwest, was arrested and charged with child abuse offences following investigations from NSW’s Sex Crimes Squad.
NSW Police have busted an alleged online child abuse ring operating around the world, leading to the arrests of people across five countries
Two men from Missouri in America’s midwest have been arrested following investigations from NSW’s Sex Crimes Squad – a three-year-old child has also been rescued
On July 18, a man was arrested at the Mexican border after he was allegedly found in possession of child abuse material
Police made several other arrests in July including a man from Gloucestershire in England’s southwest, who allegedly disclosed the sexual assault of a child known to him online, and an English man who allegedly purported to be a woman while distributing child abuse material online.
A man was also arrested at the Mexican border after he was allegedly found in possession of child abuse material.
His arrest came eight days after NSW Police identified an account holder based in Mexico allegedly distributing child abuse material online and referred the intelligence to overseas authorities.
The arrests also include a 36-year-old Polish man who was charged with child abuse offences for allegedly distributing child abuse material online, and a man from Uruguay who is accused pf producing and distributing child abuse material online.
A NSW Police spokesperson said the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) conducts multiple concurrent investigations targeting the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including Strike Force Constantine and Strike Force Trawler.
Constantine refers to the investigation into online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic or satanic themes, while Trawler targets broader child-exploitation offending facilitated through internet and telecommunications platforms.
‘Across both operations, detectives have analysed intelligence, identified offshore account holders, and urgently referred critical information to international law enforcement partners,’ the spokesperson said.
‘These coordinated efforts have resulted in the identification and arrest of alleged offenders in Uruguay, England, Poland, Mexico and the United States. Each has been charged with child abuse offences and remains in custody.’
A 36-year-old Polish man was arrested in July after allegedly distributing child abuse material
Investigations under Strike Force Constantine and Strike Force Trawler are ongoing.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into the distribution of child abuse material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
