Police chief’s warning after Brisbane man charged over alleged child abuse uncovered on social media in US

A Brisbane man has been arrested after United States authorities intercepted images of child abuse being uploaded to various social media accounts.

An international investigation into child abuse material could see a Brisbane man serve up to 15 years behind bars after he was allegedly found possessing child abuse material.

The 66-year-old Jamboree Heights man has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police, after authorities in the United States allegedly intercepted images of child abuse being uploaded to Snapchat, Google and Yahoo social media platforms.

The Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) launched an investigation after receiving multiple reports from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

The matter was referred to the Brisbane Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) and a warrant was executed at a home in Jamboree Heights on Thursday, August 20.

JACET seized a number of items for further analysis during a search of the home, including four mobile phones, three tablets and a laptop.

The man was charged and granted police bail with strict conditions, and will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 4 on one count each of using a carriage service for child abuse material (access), and using a carriage service for child abuse material (transmit).

He has been charged with four counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.

AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said no child anywhere in the world should be victimised because of the “perverted desires” of some people in the community.

“The AFP works tirelessly with our international partners to keep children safe and to investigate and prosecute those who seek to do them harm,” Det Supt Hudson said.

“The AFP will never relinquish our duty to protecting children online, and this is a reminder to those who harm children – we will find you.”

Last year, the AFP‘s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received almost 17,000 reports of child exploitation, around 45 cases a day.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.