A 40-year-old south-west Sydney man has been charged by the Australian Federal Police after an investigation into the production and online upload of child abuse material involving a child overseas. AFP investigators allege the offences occurred while the man was holidaying in Vietnam in July 2025.
According to an AFP media release, police say a preliminary review of a mobile phone allegedly revealed three files depicting child abuse material, with metadata indicating the files were taken in Vietnam on 16 July 2025. The AFP says the material was later uploaded online. Search warrants were executed in the south‑western Sydney suburbs of Ashcroft, Hinchinbrook and Smithfield on 16 December 2025, and two electronic devices were seized.
The man, aged 40, was charged with three counts of producing child abuse material outside Australia (Criminal Code s273.6) and one count of possessing child abuse material (Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s91H). He was remanded in custody and was due to appear before Fairfield Local Court on 17 December 2025. Legal proceedings are ongoing.
The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), an AFP-led body, has emphasised community vigilance after recording a 41 per cent increase in reports of online child sexual exploitation in the 2024/25 financial year. The AFP and ACCCE advise carers to monitor children’s online activity, check privacy settings and be alert to the ways offenders may use everyday platforms and messaging apps to target victims.
Members of the public with information can report to the ACCCE at accce.gov.au/report or contact NSW Police (including Cumberland Police Area Command for local inquiries). If a child is at immediate risk, call Triple Zero (000).
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