Australian Federal Police charge 29-year-old after Border Force officers detect material during routine examination at Perth Airport.
A 29-year-old Western Australian man is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with possessing child abuse material after Australian Border Force officers allegedly found the material on his mobile phone during a baggage examination at Perth Airport.
The man was intercepted by ABF officers after arriving on an international flight. As part of a standard baggage check, officers examined his mobile phone and identified alleged child abuse material. The matter was immediately referred to the Australian Federal Police for further investigation.
Perth Man Charged :
AFP officers charged the man with one count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment. He first appeared in Perth Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody to face court again today.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector David Blockley said the agency and its partners remained committed to protecting children from online predators and ensuring those who seek gratification from the exploitation of children are identified and brought before the courts.
Australian Airport Arrest Over Child Abuse Material:
ABF Inspector Tim Sutton highlighted the importance of border vigilance, stating that child abuse material “is not just files on a device, it is a record of the abuse of real children, and its possession and circulation continues that harm.”
The case is one of several recent detections at Australian airports in which electronic devices have been examined during arrival checks, leading to referrals to federal investigators. Australian authorities have repeatedly stressed that such material involves the documented abuse of real children and that possession and distribution perpetuate harm. The man remains in custody pending the court appearance.