Man faces court on child exploitation charges over alleged doll import
Border Force has intercepted a child-like doll allegedly ordered by a Far North Queensland man, leading to his arrest on multiple child exploitation charges.
A Far North Queensland man has been arrested after his alleged attempt to import a child-like doll was thwarted by border checks and led police to search his home.
Australian Border Force officers intercepted the doll allegedly ordered by a 57 year old Mount Garnet man on November 21 before notifying the Queensland Police Service and triggering a wider investigation.
Detectives from the Tablelands Child Protection and Investigation Unit later allegedly found two additional dolls, child clothing, child exploitation materials along with cannabis, drug utensils and digital devices after executing a search warrant at his address.
Between the 2024 and 2025 financial year, Border Force officers intercepted 47 child-like dolls across the country.
Child-like sex dolls are considered a Tier 2 Good and importation can lead to a fine of up to $782,500, 10 year imprisonment or both.
Speaking Earlier this year Border Force inspector Michael Mahony said the department were cracking down on the products.
“Dolls that normalise child exploitation are far from a victimless crime and they have no place in the Australian community,“ he said.
The man was charged with three counts of possessing child exploitation material, two counts using a carriage service to access child abuse material, possessing drug utensils, and one count each of intentionally import goods without approval, possess child abuse object, make child exploitation material and possession of a dangerous drug.
He will front Mareeba Magistrate court on January 13, 2026.
Originally published as Man faces court on child exploitation charges over alleged doll import
