Two Tasmanians charged in child exploitation operation conducted by Australian Federal Police

More than 40 Australian men including two Tasmanians have been charged with possessing child exploitation material as part of Operation Molto.

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TWO Tasmanian men have been arrested as part of a massive nationwide investigation into child exploitation.

The two are among 44 Australian men charged with possessing child exploitation material.

Operation Molto, co-ordinated by the Australian Federal Police’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, removed 16 children from harm as a result of the investigation.

The 44 alleged offenders were aged between 19 and 57 years old, and employed in a range of occupations such as construction, transport, law enforcement, and hospitality.

AFP Commissioner Reese Kershaw said though the hard work of police should be recognised, victims remained at front of mind for law enforcement agencies.

“Arresting offenders and putting them before the court is only half the battle,” he said.

“Identifying victims is a race against time and the ACCCE’s victim identification team is relentless in rescuing children from sexual abuse.

“Pixel by pixel, our investigators painstakingly look for clues and never give up and the tools they use give Australian police access to world leading expertise.”

Commissioner Kershaw said viewing, distributing or producing child exploitation material is a crime.

“Children are not commodities and the AFP and its partner agencies work around-the-clock to identify and prosecute offenders,” he said.

Operation Molto is ongoing, and police urge anyone with information about people involved in child abuse and child exploitation to contract Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Reports can also be made online to ACCCE at accce.gov.au/report.

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