Child porn blitz: 150 arrested
2004-09-30 09:32
Sydney - Australian police have charged more than 150 people including teachers, policemen and a child care centre operator in the country's largest-ever crackdown on internet child pornography, officials said on Thursday.
More than 400 properties across Australia were raided this week following a seven-month investigation launched on a tip-off from United States authorities, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.
About 2 000 charges had already been laid for offences including child sex tourism, sexual abuse and possession or distribution of pornographic images of children.
More than two million pornographic images were seized involving children ranging in age from two to 16, officials said.
400 search warrants
Justice Minister Chris Ellison said more than 400 search warrants had been executed across Australia and hundreds more people were likely to be charged.
The ring had links to Russia and eastern Europe, he said.
"Many of these images have originated overseas and it is alleged police have also located photographs of children being abused by offenders here in Australia," Ellison said.
"This investigation of online access to, and use of child pornography, sends a clear message that Australian law enforcement will not rest in hunting down and prosecuting offenders utilising the internet for this criminal behaviour."
Among the findings were photograph studios located within suburban homes, and libraries of child pornographic material, some dating back 20 years.
Codenamed Operation Auxin, it followed a major crackdown overseas by a US Customs-led taskforce called Operation Falcon.
"The scale of this operation and the fact that a number of professionals who work with children in positions of trust have been charged by police is concerning," Ellison said.
"It demonstrates that with child pornography, you are dealing with people who will go to great lengths to work in with each other," he said.
"The network is extensive and very sophisticated. You are dealing with the sort of criminal here who is normally intelligent and goes to great lengths to cover their tracks."
'Involves real people'
The network involved 20 websites originating in Eastern Europe and run by organised crime groups, said Mike Phelan, head of the AFP's High Tech Crime Centre.
"It has involved high-risk professions and those involved in contact with children including health care professionals, education officials, department officials and those working within the education environment as well as law enforcement officers," he said.
"This is a heinous crime that involves real people. These are real victims and real children," said Phelan, who added that he expected many more arrests.
New laws passed through Australia's Senate on August 30 introduced sanctions of up 15 years in jail for odious sex crimes against children perpetrated via the internet. On September 1 the country set up a national child offender register.