Australian detectives help disrupt international child abuse network as toddler rescued

Australian detectives have assisted in the arrest of seven alleged child sex offenders across five countries, and helped in the rescue of a three-year-old child from the home of an alleged abuser.

Sex Crimes Squad detectives from NSW have helped to disrupt a series of alleged offshore online child-abuse networks in Uruguay, England, Poland, Mexico and the United States between April and August this year.

Strike Force Constantine and Strike Force Trawler, which investigate the online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic or satanic themes as well as broader online child-exploitation, helped to identify the alleged offenders .

Two men in the UK were arrested and charged with child abuse offences, including one arrested in April pretending to be a woman and distributing child abuse material online, and the other arrested in July who allegedly disclosed the sexual assault of a child known to him online.

In the US two men were arrested, including a 23-year-old Missouri man who was allegedly the admin of a chat linked to a paedophile ring which was producing and distributing extreme child abuse material online. He was arrested and charged with child abuse material in July.

The other man was allegedly posting images and videos of child abuse to an online paedophile ring. He was arrested on Friday and a three-year-old child was rescued and placed into child protection. The man is expected to be charged with offences relating to alleged child sexual abuse and child abuse material.

In Uruguay, a man was arrested and charged in July with child abuse offences after allegedly producing and distributing child abuse material online.

In Poland, a 36-year-old man was allegedly distributing child abuse material online. He was arrested and charged with child abuse offences.

In Mexico, a man who allegedly distributed child abuse material online and was allegedly intending to travel to the United States to sexually abuse a child known to him, was arrested at the Mexican border, where he was allegedly found in possession of child abuse material. He has since been charged with child abuse offences.

Anyone with information that may assist investigations into the distribution of child abuse material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.