CANBERRA, ACT, Nov. 13 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force
Please note:Arrest image available via Hightail
A Villawood man is scheduled to appear before Bankstown Local Court today (13 November, 2026) charged with child abuse and child exploitation offences.
The AFP investigation began after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers identified alleged child abuse material on a mobile device when the man, 29, arrived in Sydney on an international flight last month (23 October, 2026).
ABF retained the device and conducted a forensic examination, during which officers located additional alleged child abuse material, which was referred to the AFP for investigation.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at a Villawood home yesterday (12 November, 2026). An electronic device was seized for further examination.
During the search, investigators seized three prohibited weapons and a laser pointer.
The man was charged with:
* One count of using a carriage service for sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.25A of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment;* One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code(Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment;* One count of producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.23 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment; and* One count of unauthorised possession of a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 7 of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
The man was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.
Note to media:
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIALnot 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material - the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase 'child pornography' is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
* indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
* conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
