AFP investigation leads to record number of children saved from abuse

A vile discovery at Sydney’s international airport led to a record number of children being saved from unthinkable acts, as the alleged culprit remains on the run.

EXCLUSIVE

When Australian Border Force officials examined a man’s bag at Sydney Airport as he returned from the Philippines, they allegedly made a hugely disturbing discovery.

On the Queensland man’s phone, they say they found child abuse material and messages detailing his intent to pay someone who would allow him to sexually abuse kids in the Philippines.

A warrant is out for his arrest after he failed to attend court over the child abuse possession and grooming charges, the AFP confirmed.

The alleged find at Sydney Airport in January was the start of a wide-scale hunt which led to the most children ever saved from abuse in a single AFP-led investigation.

Australian officers shared intelligence with their Philippines counterparts and executed several warrants at four locations in Taguig and Nueva Vizcaya, where they found 16 children they feared had been abused.

The AFP says 16 children were rescued. Picture: Supplied

The abused children - the youngest of which was aged 10 - were placed into care. Picture: Supplied

The children — the youngest of which was aged 10 — were placed into the care of child protection services.

Manila-based AFP Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins said the AFP worked tirelessly with national and global partners to save the children.

“This case highlights how vital it is for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources globally, because predators are not confined by borders,” Det Supt Perkins said.

“This is a record number of children rescued in a single operation and we are grateful to be able to support the efforts of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre to remove these children from harm.”

Despite the rescue, Det Supt Perkins acknowledged the children’s lives were “irrecoverably damaged” and there were still too many others at risk.

The youngest alleged victim was aged 10. Picture: Supplied

“That is why we will never give up our fight to keep children safe and stop those who try to exploit or abuse them,” he said.

Australian Border Force Superintendent Phillip Anderson said his team “will stop at nothing to protect children from this truly abhorrent crime type”.

“Our message is very simple – anyone committing this illegal activity can expect to be detected by the ABF and its partners, and to face the full legal consequences for their vile actions,” he said.

The man was charged with possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, grooming a person to make it easier to engage in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia and intentionally importing tier 2 goods without approval.

Police say they’re searching for the man after he failed to attend a Sydney court on May 30.

The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC) have removed 611 victims from harm and 127 alleged abusers arrested since 2019.

The AFP was responsible of rescuing 218 victims internationally — including a six-year-old-girl in June — and arresting 49 alleged offenders.

Originally published as AFP investigation leads to record number of children saved from abuse