The arrest of two men in Australia led to an international investigation that saved six children in the Philippines from sexual abuse.
Two women were also arrested in the Philippines after two child sex abuse investigations in Australia uncovered crucial evidence.
A 41-year-old Tasmanian man from Kings Meadows, near Launceston, was arrested for online child abuse in April, sparking a joint investigation between federal police in Australia and the Philippines.
Investigators seized images and videos of child abuse, as well as a text message conversation with an individual who had sold child abuse material stored on the accused man’s cell phone.
Digital forensic analysis of the phone led Australian Federal Police investigators to prove that the seller and the child victims were in the Philippines.
A second man, 41, was arrested at Melbourne airport in April after child abuse material was found on his phone when he arrived on a flight from the Philippines.
A search of his home found evidence of contact with underage victims abroad.
Intelligence from both investigations was provided to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center and AFP investigators in Manila identified common aspects between the cases, including victims linked to both men.
An AFP investigation has led to the rescue of six abused children in the Philippines
On November 14, police and social workers executed search warrants in the Cagayan De Oro region of the southern Philippines.
Two women, aged 43 and 23, were charged with substantive human trafficking and child abuse crimes, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The children, the youngest of whom was just two years old, were removed from trouble and placed in the care of child welfare services.
The rescues and arrests were a powerful reminder of why the AFP worked closely with partners around the world, said Detective Daisie Beckensall, an AFP Manila liaison officer.
“The lives of these children have been damaged beyond repair and we know there are too many other children at risk,” she said.
“That’s why we will never give up our fight to keep children safe from those who seek to exploit or abuse them.”
The Tasmanian man was charged with four counts of using a carriage service to convey child pornographic material and four charges of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communications to a person under 16 years of age. The case is still in court.
The Victorian man was charged by the AFP with possessing, soliciting and causing the transmission of child abuse material using a carriage service, one count of grooming a person to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16 outside Australia and one count one count of inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity outside Australia and engaging in sexual activity with a child outside Australia.
He pleaded guilty on November 28 and will be sentenced in April.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redressal Support Service 1800 211 028