The arrest of two men in Australia sparked an international investigation that saved six children in the Philippines from sexual abuse.
Two women were also arrested in the Philippines after two child sexual abuse investigations in Australia revealed crucial evidence.
A 41-year-old Tasmanian man from Kings Meadows, near Launceston, was arrested in April on online child abuse offences, sparking a joint investigation between Australian and Philippine federal police.
Investigators seized images and videos of child abuse, as well as a text conversation with a person who had sold child abuse material that was stored on the accused man’s mobile phone.
Digital forensic analysis of the phone led Australian Federal Police investigators to find evidence 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 uncovered evidence of contact crimes against child victims abroad.
Information from both investigations was provided to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center and AFP investigators in Manila identified commonalities between the cases, including victims linked to both men.
An AFP investigation 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, ages 43 and 23, were charged with material crimes of human trafficking and child abuse that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The children, the youngest just two years old, were rescued 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 AFP Manila liaison officer Detective Sergeant Daisie Beckensall.
“The lives of these children have been irreparably damaged and we know that there are many other children still at risk,” he said.
“That’s why we will never give up our fight to keep children safe and stop those who try to exploit or abuse them.”
The Tasmanian man was charged with four counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material and four counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communications to a person under 16. The matter is still before the courts.
The AFP charged the Victorian man with several counts of possessing, soliciting and transmitting 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 of engaging in sexual activity with a child outside Australia.
He pleaded guilty Nov. 28 and will be sentenced in April.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Support Service for Reparation and Sexual Abuse 1800 211 028