Australian paedophiles stopped from heading to child sex brothels across the world

Hundreds of Australian paedophiles, some of whom are “kingpins” and “ringleaders” of child sex brothels, have been blocked from leaving the country.

Hundreds of Australian paedophiles potentially heading for child sex hot spots around the world have been blocked from leaving the country, a new report has revealed.

The passports of 180 registered child sex offenders were cancelled while 20 convicted child sex offenders were refused one, as it is revealed some Aussies are the “kingpins” and “ringleaders” behind some of the overseas child sex brothels.

Almost 350 warnings were sent to overseas police forces about Australian sex pests who may already be on the move and travelling overseas, during the 2019 reporting period for the US State Department Trafficking in Persons 2020 report. It is a crime punishable in Australia to travel overseas and sexually abuse children.

In the 2019/2020 financial year, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has cancelled 129 passports of child sex offenders and police requested a further 275 offenders without passports be refused should they apply.

Paul Mergard CEO of Destiny Rescue. Picture: Supplied

While Covid-19 has curtailed the crimes of some travelling child sex offenders, it appears to have pushed up the number of online abuse cases particularly in South-East Asian countries.

In May The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC) rescued 14 children, aged between two and 17, from alleged child sexual abuse in the Philippines. Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team tipped off police in the Philippines after charging a 68-year-old man from regional Victoria with possession of child abuse material.

Since 2019, the PICACC has undertaken 119 operations which have resulted in the rescue of 386 victims, 88 suspects/facilitators charged and 13 offenders convicted.

Paul Mergard, the CEO of Destiny Rescue, a non-government organisation said there had been 811 rescues across eight countries since January this year.

“Our teams are working relentlessly to stop Aussie, American and British paedophiles in child sex hot spots,” Mr Mergard said.

Mr Mergard said there are areas in some cities set up specifically for different nationalities such as Aussies and Americans.

South Australian man Ruecha Tokputza, jailed in Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

He said Aussies are also known to be the “kingpins” and “ringleaders” behind child sex establishments, which are run in foreign countries by locals.

Australia introduced the world’s first laws in 2017 to stop convicted paedophiles travelling overseas after it was revealed about 800 offenders had travelled overseas the year before and

half of them had not told authorities of their travel plans as required.

In recent years a number of Australian men have been jailed for child sex abuse offences.

In May, Qantas flight attendant Chih Chen was jailed for 18½ years for sexually abusing children in the Philippines.

Chen, 52, committed the abuse over a seven-year period between 2010 and 2017 against at least 26 female victims aged between 12 and 17.

Australian man, Terrence William Hainsworth, 61 jailed for child sex offences. Picture supplied.

One of SA’s most predatory sex tourists, Ruecha Tokputza, who had “shown no remorse” for vile abuse of boys was jailed for 40 years.

Melbourne man Howard Hawke has been jailed for more than 10 years after pleading guilty to the sexual abuse of minors in Thailand.

Terrence William Hainsworth, 61, from Perth, who spent years raping a young Filipina child while living in Angeles City has been jailed for 11 years.

The June 2020 Trafficking in Persons report is the global benchmark in people trafficking across all sectors from trafficking for sex, labour and domestic servitude.

Originally published as Australian paedophiles stopped from heading to child sex brothels across the world